ISTANBUL, December 4. /TASS/. Turkey considers it necessary to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies in the Black Sea basin, calling on the parties to the conflict in Ukraine not to allow energy infrastructure to become involved in it, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said at a meeting with reporters in Istanbul.

"We hope that the war [in Ukraine] will end. Today, we call on all parties, Russia and Ukraine, to prevent energy infrastructure from becoming involved in this war as it is closely linked to people's daily lives. <…> We need to ensure uninterrupted energy flows in the Black Sea, in our straits, and through pipelines such as CPC," he said commenting on the attacks on tankers off the coast of Turkey in recent days.

"I hope we can protect energy infrastructure from this conflict. I also hope that the peace process and peace negotiations will be successful," the minister added.

"I know the US administration is making every effort to stop the war in Ukraine. [Vladimir] Zelensky was here [in Turkey] about 10 days ago. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regularly communicates with President [of Russia Vladimir] Putin. We support a peaceful resolution to this conflict and advocate for its swift end," he noted.

On Tuesday, a drone attack occurred on the Russian vessel Midvolga 2 in the Black Sea, which was en route with a cargo of vegetable oil to Georgia. The attack resulted in minor damage to the vessel’s superstructure. No one was injured. The attack was 80 nautical miles off the coast of Turkey, and the vessel safely reached the Turkish port of Sinop.

On November 28, the Gambian-flagged tankers Kairos and Virat, en route to Russia without cargo, sent distress signals respectively 28 and 38 nautical miles off the coast of Turkey in the western Black Sea. A fire started in the engine room area of the Kairos. The crew of the Virat reported damage to the hull, but no major fires.

Erdogan stated on Monday after a cabinet meeting that the attacks on tankers in the republic’s exclusive economic zone indicate an alarming escalation of the Ukrainian conflict and are inexcusable.