ANKARA (Reuters) – The United States has informed Turkey that two of its warships will cross the Turkish Straits to be deployed in the Black Sea by May 4, Ankara said on Friday as Russia expanded its military forces to the eastern border of Ukraine.
Violence has recently erupted between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in the Ukrainian region of Donbass. Germany has called on Russia to withdraw its troops, while Moscow has accused Kiev of provocations.
“A notification was sent to us 15 days ago through diplomatic channels that two American warships will 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 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