Ankara, 4 December (H.S.): Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conferred with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday in Brussels, addressing Black Sea security amid escalating attacks on Russia-linked tankers within Turkey's exclusive economic zone.

Ankara, balancing ties with both Ukraine and Russia, condemned the strikes as unacceptable, including Ukraine's acknowledged drone assault last week on two empty vessels bound for a Russian port, and a separate incident Tuesday involving a sunflower oil tanker.

These disruptions have spiked shipping insurance premiums, forcing Turkish firm Besiktas Shipping to suspend Russia-related operations, while a third tanker suffered external damage off Senegal.

Turkey warned all parties, particularly Kyiv, to cease such actions, as President Vladimir Putin vowed retaliation by severing Ukraine's sea access and intensifying strikes on its infrastructure.

Economic Development Foundation chair Ayhan Zeytinoglu labeled the tanker targeting a dangerous escalation of the Ukraine conflict during an Istanbul forum. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan separately informed French leader Emmanuel Macron of efforts to revive ceasefire talks in Istanbul.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar