Turkey Warns Russia over Black Sea Incidents, Renews Ukraine Mediation Offer
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday, warning against any actions in the Black Sea that could threaten regional stability or Turkey’s national interests, and renewing Ankara’s offer to host Ukraine peace negotiations.
Speaking alongside Lavrov at a joint press conference, Fidan stressed the need to avoid incidents harmful to Turkey’s interests, particularly amid rising tensions over maritime traffic.
In recent months, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of carrying out drone attacks on tankers near Turkey’s northern coast, as Ankara has protested to both sides over the incidents.
Turkey Renews Mediation Push
Fidan also reiterated Turkey’s offer to host a new round of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. “I conveyed our readiness to host the next rounds of talks once again,” he said, adding that Ankara stands ready to facilitate a more result-oriented negotiating process.
“I conveyed to my counterpart our expectation to avoid any incidents that can harm our country’s interests in the Black Sea,” Fidan added.
He also said that both ministers discussed concrete steps to improve navigational safety in the region. For his part, Lavrov said Russia and Turkey agreed to cooperate closely on Black Sea security issues. Sputnik News
Turkey, which will host a NATO summit in July, has maintained balanced ties with both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kyiv asked Ankara in April to host a leaders-level meeting to advance the peace process.
