TASS
Ankara may close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits to warships,
but Russia will still have the right to use them for the return of its fleet to its base, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.
"Ukraine has sent us an official request [to close the straits to Russian warships].The provisions of the Montreux Convention are very clear and precise. To this day, Turkey has been unhesitatingly complying with the Montreux Convention. It is possible to take measures towards the parties to a war that Turkey is not involved in. Turkey can restrict the passage of warships through the straits. However, the Montreux Convention also says that the ships of countries involved in a war have the right to return to their bases and should be allowed to do so,"...Turkish experts are studying the issue and in case
"a war-time situation is officially declared, the process will begin.""Clearly, it all requires Turkey to describe Russia’s attack as a war," Cavusolgu explained.
To summarize; the provisions of the Montreaux Convention say that ships of countries involved IN A WAR have to the right to return to their bases. And should be allowed to do so. In case a war-time situation is officially declared which has not happened.. Turkey has not, to date, described Russia’s action as “war”. Russia doesn’t describe this as a war, instead calling it a ‘special military operation’
It seems Ukraine’s request will fall on deaf ears.