Thursday 16 / July / 2026
Ankara: Türkiye has warned that the Russia‑Ukraine war risks spreading to the Black Sea, with serious economic consequences for the international community, while reaffirming its readiness to support mediation efforts between the two countries to achieve a lasting peace.
The war's impact has recently extended to targeting vessels in the Black Sea, with both sides exchanging attacks, while their positions on ending the conflict remain deeply divided.
Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister said during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday to support mediation efforts that Ankara does not want to see the war in Ukraine extend further into the Black Sea.
"There is no justification for a war in Europe to continue for five years in the 21st century. We need peace more than ever, and we will intensify our diplomatic contacts with both countries to advance peace efforts," he said.
Türkiye, along with several other mediator countries, has hosted multiple rounds of talks between Ukraine and Russia, though these negotiations have yielded little beyond large‑scale prisoner exchanges.
