The closure of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits by Turkey since the onset of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine has hindered the capture of Odessa, Mykolaiv, and other territories, stated Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar, in an interview with Ukrinform.
"One of the key stages in Ukraine's defense was Turkey's closure of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. We sank one 'Moscow,' and two more Russian cruisers were waiting in the Mediterranean Sea. I believe that Turkey's decision to close the straits prevented Russia from leveraging its maritime advantage to capture Odessa, Mykolaiv, and other territories that, according to Moscow's plans, were supposed to be occupied as a result of naval operations," noted Bodnar.
Furthermore, the diplomat added that Turkey has become a significant transport hub for Ukraine:
"Previously, when ships carrying cargoes for Ukraine stopped at Turkish ports, the regulatory framework did not allow Ukrainian carriers to transport these goods. Now, there is a transport visa exemption. Without licenses and permits, our companies are transporting essential cargoes for Ukraine from Turkish and other ports through Turkish territory."
It is worth noting that soon Vasyl Bodnar will take up the position of ambassador to Poland, with the corresponding decree already signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The War in Ukraine: Turkey's Position
As reported by UNIAN, recently Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized the USA for granting the Armed Forces of Ukraine permission to strike Russian territory using ATACMS missiles.
Erdoğan also recently expressed confidence that the war in Ukraine could end quickly if newly elected US President Donald Trump "applies a problem-solving approach":
"We can easily put an end to this war if we see a Trump administration that approaches the issue with a perspective of resolution... More dialogue, diplomacy, and consensus will open doors to peace, not to weapons, bombs, and conflict."