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Turkey recognized on Sunday “the state of war” in Ukraine, which authorizes it to block the transit of warships. A perilous choice for Ankara, economically dependent on Russia.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian president had raised the diplomatic pressure weighing on Turkey by posting, on his Twitter account, anticipated thanks addressed to President Erdogan. “The ban on the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea and strong military and humanitarian support for Ukrainians are extremely important today. The people of Ukraine will never forget him,” wrote, in English, Volodymyr Zelensky. The message caused discomfort and embarrassment in Ankara, because there was no indication, then, that such a decision had been taken on the Turkish side. “This message should be understood as a prayer, but is not representative of the situation at the moment,” was trying to defuse a Turkish official from Release.
Twenty-four hours later, Ankara has finally decided. Turkey acknowledged on Sunday “state of war” between Russia and Ukraine, which authorizes it, under the Montreux Convention, to limit the access of the two belligerents to the Dardanelles Strait, which opens towards the Black Sea. “The situation in Ukraine has turned into war. Turkey will implement, in transparency, all the provisions of the Montreux Convention”, explicitly indicated the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Casuvoglu, in an interview with the CNN-Turkey channel.
“enemy” nations
This treaty, signed in…