For the first time since the end of World War II, Turkey is exercising its right to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles to warships.

On Monday evening, following a cabinet meeting, President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was using its rights under the 1936 Montreux Straits Convention to prevent further escalation in the "Russia-Ukraine crisis".

Rainer Herman

Editor in Politics.

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According to Turkish media reports, the decision could affect 16 Russian warships and submarines that are in the Mediterranean, for example off the coasts of Syria and Libya, and that could set course for the Black Sea.

Some of the ships belong to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Apparently at least four Russian warships are currently waiting in the Mediterranean for permission to pass from the Turkish government.

The Montreux Convention stipulates that the passage of warships must be requested from the Turkish government.

The period is eight days for countries bordering the Black Sea and 15 days for non-bordering countries.

Most recently, six Russian warships and a submarine passed through the Straits on February 8th and 9th.

Erdogan 'disappointed' with Russia

The Turkish government based its decision on Article 19 of the Convention, which states that in times of war in which Turkey is not involved, Turkey can refuse passage to warships of the warring parties.

However, warships of other nations may continue to pass through the straits.

The Russian attack on Ukraine disappoints him, Erdogan said on Monday evening.

He reiterated his offer to mediate between the two countries, which he called "Friends of Turkey."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Turkey for its support in the war against Russia after a phone call with Erdogan on Saturday.

He wrote on Twitter that he thanks Turkey for blocking the Straits for Russian warships.

At the time, however, Turkey had not made a decision.

Already last Thursday, the first day of the Russian attack, Ukraine asked Turkey to close the straits.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had rejected this on Friday.

On Monday, however, he said that Turkish lawyers had come to the conclusion that the conditions for the application of Article 19 of the convention were in place.

Not a complete break with Moscow

Turkey is fulfilling its obligations as a member of NATO, Erdogan stressed.

The Straits decision illustrates Turkey's strategic importance to NATO.

However, Turkey supports NATO's position towards Ukraine, without wanting to break completely with Russia.

"We will not turn our backs on either Russia or Ukraine out of national interest," Erdogan said.

The Turkish economy is intertwined with both countries.

The Turkish economist Gizem Öztok Altinsaç calculates that the war will cost the Turkish economy around five percent of economic output.

Turkey imports large quantities of wheat from Ukraine and Russia, and Turkey's gas-fired power plants produce electricity using Russian gas in particular.

In addition, holidaymakers from Russia and Ukraine make up more than a tenth of foreign holidaymakers in Turkey.