In brief
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appealed to Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul. He warned that such attacks were unacceptable and reiterated Turkey’s role as a mediator. Both leaders also announced a plan to establish a new grain corridor through the Black Sea to secure safe navigation and restore maritime commerce.
In a joint press conference held Saturday in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russian and Ukrainian authorities to halt attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, calling the strikes "unacceptable" and a threat to regional security and global food supply.
Erdogan said that Turkey had sent proposals to both Moscow and Kyiv to end the attacks, but that neither side had acted on them. “It is clear that attacks against civilian vessels and actions that further exacerbate tensions in the Black Sea serve no one’s interests,” he told reporters.
The attacks on civilian vessels and actions that further inflame tensions in the Black Sea serve no one’s purposes, no matter who carries them out or what justification is offered. We cannot accept these under any circumstances
He added that all parties must act responsibly and that Turkey remained committed to restoring safe passage for commercial shipping in the strait.
Following Erdogan’s plea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had reached an agreement with the Turkish leader to work on a new grain corridor across the Black Sea. "Today I reached an agreement with President Erdogan to work on the Black Sea grain corridor," Zelenskyy told the press, noting that the discussion included proposals to secure navigation and restore normal maritime commerce.
Both officials emphasized that a new corridor would help ensure the flow of grain and other goods to markets affected by the war. Erdogan also suggested that a settlement on shipping safety could create momentum for broader peace talks in Ukraine.
Al Jazeera reports that the conference was held in Istanbul with a live audience and was covered by multiple media outlets. The statements come as global maritime traffic in the Black Sea has been disrupted by drone and missile attacks, raising concerns about food security and international shipping routes.
