Turkey has summoned the ambassador of Ukraine and the acting chargé d’affaires of Russia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express its concerns regarding a series of attacks on Russia-linked vessels within Turkey’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Black Sea.
The news was confirmed on Thursday by Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Berris Ekinci, Reuters reported.
“We have witnessed a very serious escalation in recent weeks in the Russia–Ukraine war, with reciprocal attacks,” Ekinci told members of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
“And most recently, there have been certain attacks in the Black Sea, even within our Exclusive Economic Zone,” she added.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to deprive Ukraine of access to the sea as retaliation for drone attacks on cargo ships belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea.
“The most radical solution is to cut Ukraine off from the sea—then piracy would be impossible in principle,” the Kremlin chief said in televised remarks.
He warned that Russia would intensify attacks on Ukrainian targets and vessels and would take measures against cargo ships belonging to states that support Ukraine.
