Türkiye urges end to war after Russian strike on Turkish ship in Black Sea

Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on Russia’s missile strike on a Turkish cargo vessel in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, in the Odesa region, stressing that the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war continues to threaten maritime security in the Black Sea.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Turkish media, the ministry’s position was set out in an official statement, which emphasised that the conflict poses serious risks to the safety of navigation in the region.

The ministry said that the damage inflicted on a foreign-flagged vessel owned by a Turkish company during the attack on Chornomorsk on December 12 confirms the validity of Ankara’s long-standing concerns over maritime security and freedom of navigation. It noted that the continued spread of the war into the Black Sea underscores the urgency of addressing these risks.

In this context, the Turkish Foreign Ministry once again underlined the need for an immediate end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. It also stressed the importance of reaching an agreement to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and called on the parties to halt attacks on energy and port infrastructure in order to prevent further escalation.

Earlier, a cargo vessel belonging to a Turkish company was struck by a Russian missile while docked at the port of Chornomorsk in Ukraine’s Odesa region.

The attack occurred just hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a limited ceasefire covering energy facilities and ports could be beneficial. Russia, however, has resisted repeated calls for a ceasefire.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Türkiye has sought to maintain relations with both sides of the conflict. The country also controls the Bosphorus Strait, a strategically vital passage for the transport of Ukrainian grain and Russian oil to the Mediterranean.

By Tamilla Hasanova