V. Zelensky: Turkey will ban the passage of Russian warships in the Black Sea – Turkish official denies

LAST UPDATE: 16:44

Turkey will ban the passage of Russian warships in the Black Sea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

I thank my friend Mr. President of 🇹🇷 @RTErdogan and the people of 🇹🇷 for their strong support. The ban on the passage of 🇷🇺 warships to the Black Sea and significant military and humanitarian support for 🇺🇦 are extremely important today. The people of 🇺🇦 will never forget that!

– Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022

Shortly after the Ukrainian president’s tweet, a Turkish official said Turkey had made no such decision, according to Reuters.

Russia has not received any official notification from Turkey about the closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, Interfax news agency reported earlier, citing the Russian embassy in Turkey.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a telephone conversation on Saturday that Ankara was working for an immediate ceasefire, Reuters reported.

In a statement, the Turkish presidency said Erdogan also expressed his condolences for the Ukrainians killed in the Russian attack.

As it became known earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu demanded the cessation of Russian military operations in Ukraine during a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Tsavousoglu reiterated during the call that Ankara was ready to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

Yesterday’s statements by Tsavousoglou

Turkey can not stop the access of Russian warships to the Black Sea through its straits.

The statement came from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu, citing the Montreux Treaty.

Ukraine has called on Turkey to block Russian ships from crossing the Dardanelles and Bosphorus Straits leading to the Black Sea following Russia’s invasion of its territory.

Under the Montreux Convention of 1936, Turkey is in control of the straits and may restrict the passage of warships during war or if threatened, but the request has put Turkey in a difficult position as it seeks to please the West. but also Russia.