Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Ankara, December 2 (Xinhua) — Ankara "in no way" justifies the recent attacks on commercial tankers off Turkey's Black Sea coast and has issued warnings to all relevant parties, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
The attacks in Turkey's exclusive economic zone indicate an "alarming escalation" in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict that "clearly threatens the safety of navigation in the Black Sea," he said after a cabinet meeting.
Ankara is monitoring the "recent momentum towards ending the war" and is "ready to make the necessary contribution" to efforts aimed at achieving a settlement, the president added.
According to Turkish authorities, unmanned boats attacked the empty oil tanker Virat on Friday. Another empty tanker, Kairos, en route to Russia, caught fire later that day after an explosion off the Turkish coast. Turkish authorities stated that the explosion on the Kairos was caused by an "external factor." On Saturday morning, the Virat was attacked a second time in the Black Sea, sustaining minor damage.
On Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the two tankers in question were sailing under the Gambian flag, bound for the Russian port of Novorossiysk, which was also attacked on Saturday. The Foreign Ministry reported that Ukrainian security services claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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