Defense Minister Hulusi Akar highlighted the importance of an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and ensuring peace in the Black Sea region in a meeting with his Bulgarian, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian and Georgian counterparts on Thursday.
Akar took part in a videoconference attended by Bulgarian Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, Romanian Defense Minister Vasile Dincu, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze. The meeting was initiated by Turkey.
Describing the meeting as productive, Akar said the defense chiefs exchanged views on regional defense and security issues and stressed the urgency of establishing a cease-fire in Ukraine to support a diplomatic solution and safely evacuate civilians.
Akar also noted that he and his counterparts reiterated their commitment to preserving peace and stability in the Black Sea region, including addressing the issue of drifting naval mines.
On Wednesday, Turkish forces safely defused another stray naval mine floating off the Black Sea coast, threatening safety at sea.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of laying mines in the Black Sea, and in late March, Turkish and Romanian military diving teams defused stray mines around their waters. Maritime officials say the risk of encountering floating mines along the major Black Sea shipping route adds to the perils of merchant ships sailing in the region, and that governments must ensure safe passage to keep supply chains running.
Russia's war against Ukraine, which started on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, United States and the United Kingdom, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.
Turkey is one of the countries leading efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has impacted millions of civilians. Turkey says it can facilitate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, but says that a cease-fire and humanitarian corridors are needed first.