Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Black Sea attacks on commercial vessels are inexplicable, urging immediate steps to secure navigational safety as maritime shipping increasingly falls into the firing line of the ongoing conflict.
President Erdogan Demands Navigational Safety at United Nations General Assembly
Attacks on commercial ships crossing the Black Sea have escalated sharply, drawing direct frustration from Ankara as the Russia-Ukraine war spills further into vital maritime corridors. Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the maritime strikes completely unacceptable, regardless of who is responsible for them.
The toll on civilian shipping has mounted over the course of the conflict. Since fighting began, 226 civilian and commercial vessels have sustained damage in the Black Sea, according to Turkey’s Chamber of Maritime Commerce (IMEAK). More than 70 percent of those incidents occurred this year alone, driven largely by armed drone strikes hitting vessels in active shipping lanes.
Turkish-Owned Ships and Casualties in the Firing Line
The maritime fallout hits particularly close to home for Turkey. At least 27 Turkish-owned vessels have been struck since the start of June, resulting in the deaths of four Turkish nationals, according to industry sources. The mounting casualties have prompted sharp rebukes from Turkish officials.
Top Turkish diplomat Hakan Fidan recently criticized the warring parties for attacking all commercial shipping without distinguishing among them. Having kept friendly relations with Kyiv and Moscow ever since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Turkish state—a part of NATO—has persistently called on both belligerents to halt hostilities in the Black Sea. Ankara has provided Kyiv with military backing and voiced support for its territorial integrity, but has refused to join Western sanctions on Moscow and maintained commercial ties with Russia.
Building on these diplomatic efforts, Erdogan held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday, according to a readout from his office. A readout from the Turkish presidency outlined the core message delivered during the meeting:
“During the meeting, President Erdogan stated that Turkey was ready to do all it can for the Ukraine-Russia war to end with lasting peace, that we will continue our efforts to revive direct negotiations,” the Turkish presidency said in a statement. “Our President stated that a step must be taken regarding navigational safety in the Black Sea, that attacks on commercial vessels are inexplicable, and that we expect the sides to act responsibly.”
Turkish presidency, via Reuters
Having extended proposals to both Russia and Ukraine to halt the strikes—which have claimed the lives of Turkish citizens and hit vessels owned by Turkey—Ankara notes that it currently awaits their replies. Fidan confirmed on Saturday that Ankara had made a fresh proposal to Kyiv and Moscow, but stated that both had come back with demands and positions that are difficult to reconcile.
Global Wheat Supplies Face Severe Pressures
The maritime conflict directly threatens international food security. Asian, Middle Eastern, and African nations that rely heavily on the Black Sea for grain imports are struggling to obtain provisions, causing international wheat costs to spike significantly. Ankara has said that a solution must be found so grain shipments can be carried out safely from the region.
In July 2022, Turkey and the UN jointly facilitated the creation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative to secure Ukrainian agricultural exports during the conflict, though Moscow pulled out the following year due to grievances regarding persistent barriers against its own agricultural and fertilizer shipments.
Earlier, Zelenskiy told leaders at a Crimean Platform
summit on the sidelines of the General Assembly that Kyiv was ready for a maritime truce in the Black Sea based on proposals such as those put forward by Egypt, India and Turkey.
Related reading