Turkey replies to Kiev’s request to close Dardanelles for Russian warships
Ankara has said that international law allows Russian Navy vessels to cross the straits in order to return to their bases
Turkey has said that, under certain conditions, Russian naval vessels would be still allowed to cross the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits even if the strategic waterway is closed to them during the conflict with Ukraine. On Thursday, the Ukrainian envoy to Turkey asked Ankara to close the route connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas for the Russian Navy. The appeal came hours after Moscow launched an attack on Ukraine, which it argued was necessary to protect the people in two breakaway Donbass republics.