Turkiye’s Erdogan urges Russia and Ukraine to stop Black Sea attacks

What the report says

Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used a meeting in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to call on both Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea. In remarks reported by Al Jazeera, Erdogan said strikes on commercial vessels were unacceptable and urged all sides to act responsibly, amid growing concern over the safety of shipping in the waterway.

The two leaders said they would work on a new Black Sea grain corridor aimed at restoring safer transport for grain and other shipments. Zelenskyy said a large part of the discussion focused on Black Sea security and that Turkiye supports efforts to protect navigation and normalize conditions there. Erdogan said talks on safe passage would continue and that progress could also help broader efforts toward peace in Ukraine.

According to Al Jazeera, the meeting comes as Turkiye continues to position itself as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv. Ankara has maintained ties with both sides and has previously proposed ways to halt attacks on shipping, though it says neither party has acted on its plan. The issue matters because disruptions in the Black Sea can affect global food and energy supplies.

The article also noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was international interest in a limited Black Sea ceasefire to secure grain and energy shipments, underscoring broader diplomatic efforts around the conflict.