Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged both Russia and Ukraine to stop targeting civilian ships in the Black Sea, as he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to work on a new grain corridor through the waterway. Erdogan made the comments on Saturday at a joint news conference with Zelenskyy in Istanbul, saying attacks on civilian vessels were unacceptable, whoever carries them out. The talks came on the same day US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was growing international interest in a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea to secure grain and energy shipments by both countries.
Ankara has sent Russia and Ukraine a proposal to end attacks, but says neither side has acted on it. Zelenskyy accused Russia of making the situation in the Black Sea difficult and said a significant part of his conversation with Erdogan focused on security there. He said Turkiye supports efforts to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and restore normal living conditions.
Erdogan said talks to restore safe navigation would continue. The US is reviewing proposals by Turkiye and India to get grain shipments moving, according to Rubio. It doesn’t solve the war, but at least it solves a unique aspect of it.” Erdogan also welcomed renewed momentum behind efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war through diplomatic means, pointing in particular to US President Donald Trump’s initiative.
Turkiye has hosted several rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at a lasting ceasefire and peace deal, which Erdogan said showed that “tangible results can be achieved through diplomacy”. In a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkiye was ready to support efforts to revive the diplomatic process and end the war, according to the Turkish president’s office. Last week, the Kremlin said the next round of talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US was planned to resume in November in the United Arab Emirates.
Zelenskyy said he had discussed that format with Erdogan, along with other options, including involving Turkiye, Europe and other partners, as well as the possibility of a meeting in Turkiye.
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