Ukraine asked Turkey to close Black Sea waterways to Russia -ambassador

[blue-wave]

Source: Yahoo

ANKARA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ukraine has asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships, Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara said on Thursday, after Russia launched air and ground assaults on its neighbour.

The request puts NATO member Turkey, which shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good relations with both countries, in a difficult position. Under a 1936 pact, Ankara has control over the straits and can limit warship passages during wartime or if threatened.

"We are calling for the air space, Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to be closed. We have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side," Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told a news conference in Ankara.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/now/1-ukraine-asked-turkey-close-080829914.html

[Emile]

1. Let's hope that Turkey does the right thing!

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. Hope they do act to block warships per the treaty...but boy, could that spin out of control,

and drag NATO into the war.

[melm00se]

3. From a geo-political perspective

being cut off from sea-lanes during the winter months is exactly why Russia (and before that the Soviet Union) have been eyeing a warm water seaport that does not require a transit thru a constricted passage.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

4. Yes, please! nt