ANKARA (Reuters) – The United States has informed Turkey that two of its warships will pass through the Turkish Strait to deploy in the Black Sea until May 4, Ankara said on Friday as Russia pooled its military forces on the eastern border of Ukraine.
Violence has recently spread between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in the Ukrainian Donbass region. Germany has called on Russia to withdraw its troops, while Moscow has accused Kiev of provocations.
“15 days ago he sent us a diplomatic warning that two U.S. warships would cross the Black Sea in accordance with the Montreux Convention. The ships will remain in the Black Sea until May 4, “Turkey’s foreign ministry said.
The 1936 Montreux Agreement gives Turkey control over the Bosphorus Strait and the Dardanelles, restricts the access of naval warships and governs foreign cargo ships.
Reports by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ezgi Erkoyun; Edited by Jonathan Spicer