Turkey took an important step towards establishing security and stability in the Black Sea and hosted high-level military talks in Ankara on April 15-16. It is noteworthy that this critical meeting, which took place at the Turkish Naval Forces Headquarters, was described by officials as a forum to discuss military plans to maintain a peaceful environment in the region following a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Multinational Participation and Maritime Security Focal Point
According to the official statement made by the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, high-level military representatives from Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom and the host country Türkiye are attending this important meeting. The main focus of the talks is the maritime dimensions of military planning required to establish a permanent peace environment in the Black Sea in the event of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. It is stated that the participating countries are working to develop common strategies by evaluating possible security risks in the region.
Russia Not Represented, Post-Ceasefire Security Guarantees Discussed
Turkish officials made an important statement about the nature of the meeting, emphasizing that no Russian representatives attended the talks and therefore the meeting did not amount to direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. This indicates that the meeting was more of a preparation for the post-ceasefire period rather than an end to the current conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the meeting in Ankara as an important part of a growing international coalition focused on ensuring maritime security in the region, during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Odessa, the country’s major Black Sea coastal city, on April 15. Zelenskyy added that the issue of having international troops in the Black Sea as part of a possible ceasefire agreement was also discussed in detail between the military representatives.
Zelenskyy's Statement: "It's Not About Ending the War, It's About Post-Ceasefire Security"
“This is a military meeting on Black Sea security, and primarily a coalition of countries that are willing to do this and discussions on appropriate steps to be taken,” Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said, clearly stating the purpose of the meeting. Zelenskyy emphasized that the meeting was not directly related to ending the current war, saying, “This is not about ending the war. This is about what will happen after the ceasefire – security guarantees.” These statements make it clear that the talks in Ankara are focused on shaping the maritime security architecture of a possible future peace, regardless of the dynamics of the current conflict.
