Turkey proposes to Ukraine and Russia a protocol aimed at ending attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea

Turkey has sent Ukraine and Russia a draft protocol intended to put an end to attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, a Turkish diplomatic source announced. The document is presented as a draft for identifying a solution that would reduce risks to commercial navigation in the region.

The initiative comes after the intensification of attacks on vessels sailing in the Black Sea and after Ankara’s warnings about the expansion of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently stated in Baku that the threat to the safety of Turkish citizens and the disruption of navigation are unacceptable.

At the beginning of August, Turkey had already asked the two countries to accept a moratorium on attacks against commercial vessels. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, assessed that such an agreement would be difficult to monitor.

According to the Turkish Chamber of Maritime Commerce, approximately 25 Turkish vessels, most of them flying foreign flags, were targeted over the summer. Ankara summoned Ukraine’s ambassador after a Turkish vessel and the ship sent to tow it were attacked.