Kyiv, July 16 (SANA) Türkiye does not want the Russia-Ukraine war to spill over into the Black Sea and remains committed to preserving security and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv, Fidan said attacks on ports, oil tankers and fishing vessels, as well as actions endangering civilians in the Black Sea, were unacceptable. He warned that further escalation risked broadening the conflict and increasing regional instability.
Fidan reaffirmed the importance of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks hosted by Türkiye in Istanbul, saying negotiations remained the most viable path toward a political settlement despite ongoing fighting. He added that Ankara was working with the parties and international partners on new initiatives aimed at advancing the peace process.
Addressing a potential peace agreement, Fidan said security guarantees for Ukraine would be a key component of any future settlement and noted that Türkiye had agreed to lead the maritime element of a prospective international security mechanism in coordination with partner countries.
Sybiha said Türkiye could host another round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, including a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He added that Kyiv remained ready to implement a ceasefire and continued to pursue diplomatic efforts to end the war.
F.J./ABD
