ANKARA (Reuters) – The United States has informed Turkey that two of its warships will move through the Turkish Strait to be deployed in the Black Sea until May 4, Ankara said on Friday while Russia deployed its military forces on the eastern border. of Ukraine has increased.
Violence has recently flared up between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbass region of Ukraine. Germany has asked Russia to withdraw its troops, while Moscow has accused Kyiv of provocations.
A notice was sent to us via diplomatic channels 15 days ago that two American warships were going to the Black Sea under the Montreux Convention. The ships will remain in the Black Sea until May 4, “said Turkey’s foreign ministry.
The 1936 Montreux Agreement gives Turkey control of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits, restricts access to naval warships, and governs foreign cargo ships.
Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ezgi Erkoyun; Edited by Jonathan Spicer