Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Russia and Ukraine to end attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea. Speaking on Saturday at a joint news conference in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said such strikes were unacceptable regardless of who carried them out.
The two leaders also agreed to work on a new grain corridor through the waterway. The talks coincided with comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said international interest in a limited Black Sea ceasefire to protect grain and energy shipments was growing.
Erdogan demands an end to strikes on shipping
Erdogan said attacks on civilian vessels, and actions that further raise tensions in the Black Sea, served no one’s interests. “We cannot accept these attacks under any circumstances, regardless of who carries them out or what justification is offered,” he said. He added, “We call on all parties to act responsibly on this matter.”
Turkiye maintains ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, but has been angered by strikes on commercial shipping. Ankara has sent both countries a proposal to end the attacks, yet says neither side has acted on it.
Zelenskyy and Erdogan agree on grain corridor work
Zelenskyy accused Russia of making the situation in the Black Sea difficult. He said a significant part of his conversation with Erdogan focused on security in the area. “Today, I reached an agreement with President Erdogan to work on the Black Sea grain corridor,” he said.
Zelenskyy said Turkiye supports efforts to ensure safe navigation and restore normal living conditions in the region. He thanked the Turkish leader for the dialogue, saying the two sides had discussed ideas and proposals that could help. Erdogan said talks on restoring safe navigation would continue.
Rubio cites US review of Turkish and Indian proposals
Rubio said the United States is reviewing proposals from Turkiye and India aimed at getting grain shipments moving. Speaking at a news conference in Atlanta, Georgia, after a G20 foreign ministers meeting, he said the disruption threatened global food security and, in some respects, energy security. “We’d like to achieve it. It doesn’t solve the war, but at least it solves a unique aspect of it,” he said.
Erdogan said he believed an agreement on this issue would also give fresh impetus to efforts to secure lasting peace in Ukraine.
Renewed diplomatic push to end the war
Erdogan welcomed renewed momentum behind diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, pointing in particular to an initiative by US President Donald Trump. “At this point, we maintain that there can be no losers in a just peace,” he said, adding that Turkiye stood ready to make every possible effort to pave the way for peace.
Turkiye has hosted several rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at a lasting ceasefire and peace deal. Erdogan said such talks showed that “tangible results can be achieved through diplomacy.” In a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, he 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 United States 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 a possible meeting in Turkiye. “Strong decisions are needed for there to be peace,” he said.
