- Turkey urged Russia and Ukraine to keep their energy infrastructure out of the conflict and insisted that key routes, such as the CPC pipeline, must remain safe.
- Ankara warned both sides after rising attacks on tankers and energy facilities, while Ukraine sought Turkey’s help with gas supplies through BOTAS and Naftogaz.
Turkey has urged Russia and Ukraine to keep the energy infrastructure out of their war. The government also called on both sides to protect energy flows and prevent further disruption. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar delivered this appeal after several attacks near Turkey’s Black Sea coast. He highlighted the instability caused by the conflict and warned that any further escalation could harm global energy security. His comments came as both countries expanded operations targeting each other’s energy interests.
Ukraine admitted responsibility for a recent attack involving seaborne drones. These drones struck two empty tankers en route to a Russian port. However, officials in Kyiv denied involvement in a separate incident on Tuesday. In that case, a Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil claimed it had come under drone attack. Such conflicting accounts increased tension in an already volatile environment.
Bayraktar told journalists on Wednesday that he hoped the war would come to an end soon. He repeated his call for both sides to keep energy facilities out of the conflict. The minister also stressed the importance of uninterrupted energy flows across the region. Additionally, he emphasised the vital role played by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline.
Ankara, a NATO member with ties to both Kyiv and Moscow, condemned the recent attacks on Russia-linked vessels near Turkey. Turkish officials raised the issue at a NATO meeting on Wednesday. They urged caution and demanded strong protection for commercial shipping.
President Vladimir Putin reacted by threatening to block Ukraine’s access to the sea. He warned that Russia would intensify strikes on Ukrainian facilities and vessels. These threats drove Black Sea shipping insurance rates even higher. The rising risk also forced a Turkish company to halt its Russia-related operations after one of its vessels suffered external damage near Senegal. No group claimed responsibility.
The CPC pipeline briefly stopped operating on Saturday. A mooring at its Black Sea terminal near Novorossiisk sustained damage in a Ukrainian drone strike. This pipeline carries most of Kazakhstan’s oil exports and accounts for more than one per cent of global supply.
In November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ankara for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During the meetings, Ukraine requested Turkish support for gas supplies. Bayraktar confirmed that BOTAS and Naftogaz were working on a cooperation plan. He added that Ukraine’s large underground storage capacity allows the country to store cheaper summer energy for use during winter.