Erdoğan says attacks on civilian ships in Black Sea are unacceptable

By Yusuf İnan | Wise News Press

ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Black Sea navigation, a grain corridor, peace negotiations and bilateral economic cooperation during talks in Istanbul.

Erdoğan said attacks on civilian vessels were unacceptable regardless of who carried them out, while Zelenskyy announced that the two countries would work toward an effective Black Sea grain corridor and consider Türkiye as a venue for future diplomatic meetings.

Talks lasted about 90 minutes

Zelenskyy arrived in Türkiye for a working visit at Erdoğan’s invitation and was received with an official ceremony at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office.

The two leaders held a private meeting followed by talks between their delegations. The discussions lasted approximately 90 minutes before Erdoğan and Zelenskyy appeared at a joint news conference.

Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, National Intelligence Organization chief İbrahim Kalın, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov attended the expanded talks.

Erdoğan began his remarks by offering condolences to Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine for those killed during the war. He said the talks covered recent diplomatic efforts to establish peace in Ukraine and the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea.

Erdoğan rejects attacks on civilian shipping

Erdoğan warned that the conflict was increasingly spilling into the Black Sea and creating further risks for civilian navigation and regional stability.

He said attacks on civilian vessels and other steps that could escalate tensions would benefit no party. He called on all sides to act responsibly.

“We cannot accept these attacks in any way, regardless of who carries them out or what justification is offered,” Erdoğan said.

The Turkish president added that Ankara would continue its contacts with the parties to restore navigational security in the Black Sea. He said Türkiye also intended to discuss the matter with Russia.

According to Erdoğan, a maritime understanding could contribute not only to the protection of civilian shipping but also to broader efforts aimed at achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine.

Türkiye has repeatedly warned both Kyiv and Moscow against actions that could endanger commercial vessels, port infrastructure and maritime trade. The issue has acquired greater urgency following attacks involving drones, missiles and naval mines in the Black Sea.

Work to begin on a Black Sea grain corridor

Zelenskyy said a significant part of the talks was devoted to security in the Black Sea. He thanked Türkiye for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Ukrainian president said the leaders considered proposals intended to protect maritime navigation and support international food security. They agreed to work together on the Black Sea grain corridor.

“Today, I reached an agreement with President Erdoğan to work on the Black Sea grain corridor so that the corridor exists and operates effectively,” Zelenskyy said.

The announcement does not mean that the previous grain initiative has automatically been restored or that Russia has agreed to join a new mechanism. It establishes a basis for further diplomatic and technical work on a secure maritime export route.

The earlier Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations in July 2022. It allowed Ukrainian agricultural products to be exported through designated Black Sea routes despite the war. The mechanism ended after Russia withdrew in July 2023.

The structure of any new corridor, the security guarantees for vessels and the possible role of Russia or international organizations have not yet been announced.

Türkiye considered as venue for future peace talks

Erdoğan welcomed renewed efforts to end the war through diplomacy, including initiatives supported by US President Donald Trump.

The Turkish president pointed to previous negotiations hosted by Türkiye as evidence that diplomacy could produce tangible results.

“A just peace has no losers. We are ready to make every effort necessary to open the road to peace,” Erdoğan said.

Zelenskyy said preparations were underway for a trilateral diplomatic format involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia in the first half of November.

According to the Ukrainian leader, the Istanbul talks addressed the potential participation of Türkiye in the diplomatic process, the inclusion of European partners and the possibility of holding meetings on Turkish territory.

However, the final location, date, agenda and level of representation have not been formally announced. Türkiye remains one of the potential venues being considered for further negotiations.

Zelenskyy said international partners should continue sending a clear message to Russia that there was no alternative to peace and that support for Ukraine would continue.

Free trade agreement enters into force

Erdoğan said Türkiye had reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity during the meeting.

The Turkish president announced that the bilateral free trade agreement, signed in 2022, entered into force on October 1, 2026. He described the development as an important step for bilateral economic and commercial relations.

Erdoğan said the agreement would bring the two countries closer to their target of increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion.

Zelenskyy also said secure maritime transportation would facilitate the implementation of the free trade agreement and create new opportunities for Ukrainian and Turkish companies.

Erdoğan added that Turkish companies which had maintained their operations in Ukraine during the war could make an important contribution to the country’s reconstruction.

No new reconstruction contracts were announced at the news conference, but infrastructure and post-war rebuilding remain significant areas of potential cooperation.

Energy and defence cooperation also discussed

Zelenskyy said the two sides also addressed cooperation in defence manufacturing, industry, energy and infrastructure.

The Ukrainian president said the countries were preparing joint industrial and economic projects, including initiatives in the defence sector. Details of the proposed projects were not publicly disclosed.

Energy assistance was another important part of the discussions as Ukraine faces continued Russian attacks on power-generation and distribution infrastructure.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian officials had met representatives of Turkish energy companies and expected deliveries of generators and other energy equipment to increase during the following week.

The number, value and delivery schedule of the generators and other equipment were not specified.

The talks therefore produced a commitment to continue work in four principal areas: restoring safe Black Sea navigation, developing an effective grain corridor, exploring future diplomatic meetings in Türkiye and expanding economic, energy and industrial cooperation.

The implementation of those commitments will depend on subsequent negotiations, technical arrangements and, in the case of a maritime security mechanism, the responses of other parties to the war.

WiseNewsPress.com