Turkiye summons Ukraine's ambassador over Black Sea vessel attacks
Ukraine's ambassador to Turkiye was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Ankara on Saturday following two attacks on Turkish-operated vessels in the Black Sea, according to reports from Turkish media and the AFP news agency.
Turkish officials communicated their concerns to Ambassador Nariman Dzhelyalov at the ministry, the AFP news agency reported. During the meeting, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it warned of the absolute need to ensure the safety of people, assets, navigation, and the environment in the Black Sea.
Turkish media, citing sources in the Foreign Ministry, reported that the ambassador was informed of the inadmissibility of attacks on Turkish merchant vessels and warned of the need to ensure the safety of life, property, shipping, and the environment in the Black Sea.
The summoning followed a series of incidents involving Turkish ships in the Black Sea. The Turkish-operated container ship Lider Bordo Mavi was struck on Wednesday while off the coast of Tuapse, Russia. The following day, another Turkish vessel, the Lider Kocatepe, which had been sent to tow the damaged bulk carrier, also came under fire in the same area, according to Turkish media and reporting by Al Jazeera.
Turkish media reported that a fire broke out aboard the Lider Bordo Mavi, injuring five crew members, and that the vessel was towed to the Turkish port of Samsun.
The incidents come as Turkiye has been calling for a halt to attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, as Ukraine and Russia continue to target each other's export revenues. Navigation in the sea has carried heightened risk since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022, and attacks have escalated.
Several commercial Turkish ships have been hit by drones thought to have been launched by Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera. Three crew members were seriously injured when the Nadezhda cargo ship was hit by a drone near the Russian port of Novorossiysk earlier this month.
Turkiye's balancing act
Turkiye maintains relations with both Moscow and Kyiv and has positioned itself as a mediator between the two sides. It has not applied Western sanctions on Russia, and has sold US-made defence equipment to Ukraine. A free trade agreement between Turkiye and Ukraine was ratified by the Ukrainian government in July, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for a halt to attacks in the Black Sea, saying, "They are attacking all commercial shipping without distinction."