NATO member Turkey described Russia's attack on Ukraine as war, and vowed to implement part of an international pact that could potentially limit the transit of Russian warships from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
Kiev has asked Turkey to block more Russian ships from entering the Black Sea, as it is where Moscow is launching attacks on Ukraine's southern coast. So far, there have been at least six Russian warships and a submarine transiting the Turkish strait this month.
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"It's not some airstrikes right now, the situation in Ukraine is officially war. We will implement the Montreux Convention," said Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister, in an interview, quoted from Israel Hayom, Monday, February 28, 2022.
Balancing Western commitments and Moscow's close ties, Turkey called the Russian attack unacceptable but as of Sunday had not described the situation in Ukraine as war. The mention of the word 'war' would allow Turkey to restrict Russian warships in the Black Sea to apply the articles of the 1936 Montreux Convention, which allowed it to restrict naval transit in the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits during times of war or if threatened.
However, Cavusoglu reiterated that Turkey cannot block all Russian warships from accessing the Black Sea due to the terms in the pact that free them from returning to their registered bases.
“There should be no abuse of this exception. Ships that declare returning to their bases and passing through the strait should not be involved in war," Cavusoglu said.
Turkey is known to have good relations with Russia and Ukraine, and while NATO members have imposed sanctions on Russia, any move by Turkey could jeopardize Russia's large energy imports, trade and tourism sectors at a time of domestic economic turmoil.
Cavusoglu also said that he spoke with his Ukrainian and Russian counterparts, and he was pleased to hear the news that the two countries would hold negotiations to end the conflict.
Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said earlier on Sunday 27 February 2022, that on the fourth day of the war in Ukraine, President Erdogan called for Russia to stop its attacks and start negotiations.
"On the Fourth day of the Ukraine war, we reiterate President Erdogan's call for an immediate halt to the Russian offensive and the start of ceasefire negotiations," Kalin said.
