Turkish Foreign Ministry said it was impossible to stop the exit of Russian warships to the Black Sea
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Turkey refused to block the passage of Russian warships in the Black Sea through the straits of the country against the backdrop of Russia's special operation to protect the Donbass, citing a clause in an international treaty that says it is impossible to stop the return of ships to their base. This was reported by Reuters with reference to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
“If the countries participating in the war request the return of their ships to their bases, this should be allowed,” the minister said.
The diplomat added that even if Turkey, after the trial, decides to accept the request of Ukraine and close the straits for Russian warships, this will only prevent them from moving in the other direction, from their base to the Mediterranean Sea.
Earlier, Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara Vasily Bodnar said that the Ukrainian authorities could apply to the Turkish government to block the strait for Russia on the basis of the Montreux Convention. On February 24, the Ukrainian Embassy in Turkey asked Ankara to close the Dardanelles for Russian ships after the start of the military operation in Donbass.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided to conduct a special military operation to protect Donbass. The head of state also turned to external forces that might try to create a threat to Russia – according to him, the answer will be immediate.
