Russia has rejected a Turkish initiative proposing a moratorium on attacks against vessels in the Black Sea, saying it sees no grounds for such a measure under current conditions.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded to the proposal on August 14, days after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara had approached both Russia and Ukraine about establishing a mechanism to halt attacks on ships in the Black Sea.
In an August 8 interview with Anadolu Agency, Fidan said Türkiye had presented proposals to both sides and was awaiting their responses. He added that Ukraine had previously approached Türkiye with a similar request.
Zakharova said Moscow had not received through official channels a “formalized Turkish appeal” setting out the specific terms of the initiative.
She accused Ukraine of regularly carrying out what she described as “acts of terrorism” using drones against civilian vessels in the Black Sea.
Zakharova did not mention repeated Russian strikes in Ukraine’s Black Sea region that have caused casualties and damaged civilian and commercial infrastructure, including foreign cargo vessels.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Moscow sees no indications that the situation is improving and therefore no grounds for measures that, in Russia’s view, would merely provide the Ukrainian side with a temporary pause.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has identified vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet as targets in the Black Sea. Kyiv says the fleet helps Moscow circumvent international sanctions and generate revenue used to finance its war against Ukraine.
