Turkey acknowledges Russia's invasion of Ukraine an act of "war"

Turkish officials on Sunday called Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine a “war,” a change in rhetoric that could pave the way for Turkey to block the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea.

Driving the news: In accordance with the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black seas, and is able to limit the passage of warships during wartime or if threatened, per Reuters.

Turkey previously enjoyed warm ties with both Russia and Ukraine, and shares a maritime border with both in the Black Sea. Earlier this week, Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey urged the country to shut the straits to Russian warships.