Turkey's Erdogan tells Ukraine's Zelenskiy that Black Sea attacks are inexplicable - Reuters

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy regarding the ongoing conflict in the Black Sea. During the meeting, President Erdogan characterized the recent attacks by both Russia and Ukraine on commercial vessels as inexplicable. He emphasized that both nations must take immediate steps to ensure navigational safety and act with greater responsibility to prevent further incidents.

As a member of NATO, Turkey has sought to maintain diplomatic relations with both Moscow and Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Ankara has repeatedly called for an end to maritime hostilities, noting that some of the attacks have targeted Turkish-owned vessels and resulted in the deaths of Turkish citizens. The Turkish government has stated that it has formally offered to mediate a cessation of these attacks and is currently awaiting responses from both sides.

The Turkish presidency underscored that a resolution is necessary to ensure the safe transport of grain shipments from the region. In a statement released following the meeting, the office of the Turkish president reiterated the country's readiness to facilitate a lasting peace. Turkey remains committed to its efforts to revive direct negotiations between the warring parties to bring an end to the conflict.

The discussions took place against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly, where President Zelenskiy addressed the Crimean Platform summit. During the summit, the Ukrainian president indicated that Kyiv is prepared to consider a maritime truce in the Black Sea. These diplomatic exchanges reflect the ongoing international pressure to secure critical shipping routes and mitigate the broader impact of the war on global trade.