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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that attacks targeting vessels in the Black Sea are damaging regional stability, as he urged restraint amid overlapping wars that risk widening.
Both leaders held a phone call in the wake of a recent tanker attack near the Bosphorus, as concerns grow over the safety of vessels in the Black Sea.
Last week, a crude oil tanker owned by an Istanbul-based company was attacked after departing from Russia, targeted by both an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned surface vehicle. There were 27 Turkish crew members on board at the time of the incident, all of whom were reported safe.
During the call, Erdogan stated that Türkiye does not approve U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iran, while also rejecting Tehran’s retaliatory attacks against neighboring countries, according to the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. Escalation must be prevented, he added, noting that Ankara is maintaining contact with all sides with a focus on stability.
He warned that the Iran war should not open new fronts within the Russia-Ukraine war, cautioning that further escalation could deepen existing crises.
Türkiye continues diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, and those efforts should not be disrupted, Erdogan said, while advising all parties to avoid steps that could intensify tensions.
The Turkish president also addressed developments in Syria, stating that steps reinforcing stability there align with the shared interests of Türkiye and Russia. Preserving current gains remains important, he added.
Erdogan also pointed to Israel’s actions in the region, stressing that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be restrained. He stated that steps undermining the status of Jerusalem must not be allowed.
Israel's so-called security measures imposed after attacks in Lebanon and Iran have restricted access to holy sites for Muslims and Christians in Al-Quds, raising concerns over changes to long-standing rules that allow free worship.
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The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin and Erdogan also called for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran war, emphasizing the need for compromise-based peace arrangements that consider the interests of all regional actors.
The call also noted that ongoing military action is producing wider consequences beyond the region, affecting energy, trade, and logistics flows.
The Kremlin also stressed the need for coordinated measures to ensure security in the Black Sea, accusing Ukraine of attempting to target critical gas infrastructure linking Russia and Türkiye, referring to recent reported attacks on the Blue Stream and TurkStream natural gas pipelines.
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