Mehmet Ferruh Akalin

The European Union has frozen plans to blacklist more senior executives at Turkey's state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), four diplomats said, in the clearest sign that a diplomatic offensive by Ankara this year is bearing fruit.

Turkey has condemned a decision by the European Union to impose sanctions on two senior members of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) over illegal drilling in waters off Cyprus, calling it an "example of [the bloc's] biased and unlawful attitude under the pretext of union solidarity."

The EU has extended sanctions against Turkey for its drilling operations in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus. This is stated in the Official Journal of the EU, which published the relevant regulations, reports TASS.