Meeting in Türkiye on Black Sea truce to be held without Russians

Representatives of the Russian Federation will not attend the Black Sea security meeting scheduled for 15-16 April in Türkiye.

According to Turkish media outlet Anadolu, the Turkish Defence Ministry has announced that a meeting will be held in Ankara on 15 and 16 April to discuss the security of the Black Sea after a potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

The meeting will be held at the naval headquarters. It will be attended by military representatives of foreign countries. The agenda will include naval planning to maintain a peaceful environment in the Black Sea.

The Turkish Defence Ministry did not specify which countries would take part in the meeting but noted that there would be no Russian officials among them.

Earlier, Turkish media quoted sources in the Turkish Defence Ministry as saying that a meeting on security in the Black Sea would be held in Ankara, with Ukrainian and Russian representatives attending.

Following the talks held in Saudi Arabia from 23 to 25 March, Russia and Ukraine agreed to hold discussions on the security of shipping in the Black Sea.

However, Russia later issued a list of demands, including the easing of several sanctions on its agricultural sector. The United States stated it would consider these demands, while European countries have rejected any easing of sanctions.