Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office announced Thursday that his country has asked Russia to refrain from further escalation after the Russian Navy fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the Black Sea last weekend.

“Our interlocutors in Russia have been warned to avoid such actions that could increase tensions in the Black Sea,” the Turkish presidential office said.

The Russian Navy fired warning shots last Sunday while the Turkish-owned ship “Sukru Ogan” was flying the Palau flag.

After that, members of the Russian military boarded the ship for inspection, allowing it to continue sailing toward the Ukrainian port of Ismail.

The incident comes amid a surge in attacks in the Black Sea region following Russia’s decision last month not to extend Ukraine’s grain export deal.

The only agreement between Russia and Ukraine since the start of the war was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, and Turkey maintains good relations with both Moscow and Kiev.

But Erdogan has come under criticism at home for remaining silent on Russian targeting of the cargo ship.

The president hit back at critics on Thursday, saying it was technically Palau who was responding to the incident.

“Although the ship’s owner, Sugru Ogan, is Turkish, the ship will not fly the Turkish flag,” the presidential palace said.

“In international law, flag status is more important than the name of a ship or the nationality of its crew,” he added.

Palau is an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean and shipping companies often fly their flag for free access to international ports.