Ankara reports no threat to shipping in the Black Sea

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that there is no threat to navigation in the Black Sea after the discovery of drifting mines.

"At the moment, there are no problems with shipping," Anadolu Agency quotes Akar as saying.

The minister stressed that Ankara is ready to allocate ships to organize the evacuation of civilians and the wounded from Mariupol by sea. According to him, Turkey is actively coordinating its efforts with Moscow and Kyiv.

"Ankara's readiness to support the evacuation process was brought to the attention of the Russian military attaché in Turkey, who was invited to our defense department. A similar initiative was presented to Russian authorities by the Turkish military attaché in Moscow. We are also coordinating our efforts with Ukrainian authorities through the military attaché in this country," Akar said.

He added that Turkey continues to supply humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Akar recalled that he held several telephone conversations with Sergei Shoigu and Alexei Reznikov. According to him, he also personally met with the Ukrainian minister in Istanbul.

The head of the Turkish Defense Ministry announced active contacts with Moscow and Kiev on the issue of the safe exit of Turkish ships from the ports of Ukraine. Akar underlined the need to reach agreements on a ceasefire.