Turkish, US presidents discuss ties, Azov Sea crisis

By Ahmet Salih Alacaci

ANKARA (AA) - In a phone conversation Wednesday, the presidents of Turkey and the U.S. discussed bilateral relations and recent maritime tensions between Russia and Ukraine, according to Turkish presidential sources.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump also agreed to meet on the sidelines of this weekend’s G20 summit in Argentina, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions of speaking to the press.

Sources said Erdogan also told about his conversations earlier today with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about a recent confrontation at sea between their countries.

On Sunday, Russia seized two Ukrainian navy ships and a navy tugboat along with 23 crew members off Crimea, accusing Kiev of entering its waters and provoking a conflict.

It said the vessels had ignored calls to stop, sparking military action.

Russia intervened as the Ukrainian ships were relocating from the Black Sea port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine also accused Russian warships of opening fire on the ships, asserting that crew members were wounded and the vessels were seized by Russia.

Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum.

Turkey, as well as the UN General Assembly, viewed the annexation as illegal.

Ukraine has also blamed Russia for separatist violence in eastern Ukraine, near the border with Russia.