ANKARA, June 16 (Reuters) – Turkey’s overseas minister mentioned on Tuesday he instructed his Russian counterpart about the necessity to keep away from steps within the Black Sea that threatened regional safety and Turkey’s pursuits, including he additionally repeated Turkey’s provide to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.
In latest months, Ukraine and Russia have accused one another of drone assaults on tankers close to Turkey’s northern coast, together with one on a Turkish-owned vessel. Ankara has protested to each Kyiv and Moscow over the assaults.
Talking at a press convention alongside Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, International Minister Hakan Fidan mentioned the precedence for Turkey – which hosted earlier rounds of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia – was for the perimeters to renew negotiations and finish the battle as quickly as attainable.
“I conveyed our readiness to host the following rounds of talks as soon as once more… If the perimeters agree, we’re able to additionally talk about how the negotiations can proceed in a extra result-oriented approach,” he mentioned.
“I conveyed to my counterpart our expectation to keep away from any incidents that may hurt our nation’s pursuits within the Black Sea,” Fidan added, saying he and Lavrov mentioned attainable methods to make sure navigational security within the area.
He added that Turkey additionally opposed any assaults on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Kyiv requested Ankara in April to mediate by internet hosting a leaders’ stage assembly. Turkey, which can host a NATO summit this July, has maintained cordial ties with Moscow and Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Huseyin HayatseverEditing by Ros Russell)
