Turkey to Host Black Sea Security Meeting Without Russia, Ukraine

Turkey's Ministry of National Defense has confirmed its intention to hold a meeting on Black Sea security after a possible ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, but without the participation of the warring countries.

This was reported by the Express media outlet with reference to the ministry.

"The meeting, which will be held with the participation of military representatives of foreign countries, will discuss the naval dimension of military plans that can be made to maintain peace in the Black Sea. Military plans that can be made to maintain peace in the Black Sea will be discussed. There will be no Russian or Ukrainian military officials among the foreign officials," the newspaper quoted the ministry's statement as saying.

Earlier, CNN türk, citing sources in the Turkish Ministry of Defense, reported that on April 15-16, Russian and Ukrainian officials would meet at the Naval Command in Ankara to discuss the security of the Black Sea. The publication suggested that the meeting would be attended by representatives of Russia and Ukraine.

Last year, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria began jointly searching for mines in the Black Sea on July 1 to improve the safety of shipping, particularly Ukrainian grain exports from ports in the Greater Odesa region.

The Istanbul-led initiative was the first major joint action by the Black Sea states since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to clear mines drifting into certain areas of the Black Sea as a result of the war.

In October 2023, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria began discussing the creation of a joint force to clear any mines that fall into their waters from Russia's war against Ukraine.

However, in January 2024, Turkey decided to ban transit through its waters to the Black Sea for two British mine-searching ships.

Turkey informed all its allies that it would not allow the use of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits until the war in Ukraine was over.

These were two Sandown-class mine countermeasures ships that the UK and Norway had purchased as part of the new Maritime Capabilities Coalition, which will supply ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine's maritime capabilities.

Кирило Бойко