Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the recent attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea, calling the actions "unacceptable" and issuing a stern warning to all involved parties.
The attacks, which targeted commercial vessels off Türkiye's northern coast, come amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and have raised serious concerns over navigational safety in the region.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Erdoğan highlighted the nature of the incident, particularly given the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
"It is seen that the war between Russia and Ukraine has reached a point where it clearly threatens navigational safety in the Black Sea. Friday's targeting of commercial ships in our exclusive economic zone signals a worrying escalation," Erdoğan said.
The attacks occurred on Friday, 28 November, when unmanned Ukrainian naval drones hit two sanctioned Russian tankers, the Kairos and the Virat, as they headed to the Russian port of Novorossiysk to load oil for foreign markets.
The tankers were reportedly empty at the time of the attack. This move is part of Ukraine's broader strategy to exert pressure on Russia's oil industry, which remains a significant source of revenue for Moscow despite international sanctions.
"We cannot condone these attacks, which threaten navigational, life, and environmental safety, particularly in our own exclusive zone," Erdoğan added.
He emphasised Türkiye's commitment to ensuring the security of the Black Sea and confirmed that the Turkish government had issued necessary warnings to all relevant parties.
The recent escalation of hostilities in the Black Sea reflects the broader tensions in the ongoing conflict, as both Russia and Ukraine continue to target critical infrastructure in the region. Türkiye, which has maintained a delicate balancing act in its relations with both sides, has reiterated the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Black Sea, particularly given its strategic position as a key player in the region's security.
Belgian authorities are examining suspected cases of infants falling ill after consuming recalled Nestle baby formula, amid warnings that confirmed in...
France has approved its 2026 budget after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes in the National Assembly on Monday, ending...
Rome has begun charging tourists 2 euros to step down to the Trevi Fountain’s basin area, a measure aimed at easing overtourism and funding maintena...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced a new trade agreement with India that will see Washington reduce tariffs on Indian imports, after New ...
President Ilham Aliyev met President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Monday, where the two leaders reaf...
Kazakhstan lost around 3.8 million tonnes of oil exports following an attack on facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said, stressing that it is still too early to assess the losses in monetary terms.
Kazakhstan has confirmed that two oil tankers linked to the transport of its crude were attacked in the Black Sea, underscoring the growing security risks surrounding the country’s primary export corridor.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that the Russia-Ukraine war is now threatening trade in the Black Sea.
Kyrgyzstan has joined the TRACECA multilateral permit system, a move analysts say will deepen regional integration, cut transport costs and ease cross-border trade, opening new routes to Europe and the Black Sea.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any U.S. military attack on Iran would spark a wider regional conflict, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
U.S. president Donald Trump said Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States and expressed hope that negotiations could lead to an outcome acceptable to Washington.
Nigeria has filed 57 terrorism-related charges against nine men accused of planning and executing a June 2025 attack in Benue state that killed about 150 people.
France has approved its 2026 budget after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes in the National Assembly on Monday, ending months of political tension that had unsettled investors.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced a new trade agreement with India that will see Washington reduce tariffs on Indian imports, after New Delhi pledged to stop buying Russian oil and increase purchases from the U.S. and potentially Venezuela.
Yanis Varoufakis delivered a blunt assessment: the European Union has missed every major chance to reform, poisoned its own democratic debate and is now entering a prolonged period of structural decline.
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 February, after the meeting was postponed last week to align the schedules of all delegations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment