President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to work on a new Black Sea grain corridor on Oct. 31, as Erdogan urged Russia and Ukraine to stop targeting civilian ships. The announcement followed a series of drone attacks on commercial vessels, including the sinking of an Israeli-operated cargo ship off the coast of Bulgaria.
Erdogan stated during a joint news conference in Istanbul that attacks on civilian vessels are unacceptable regardless of who carries them out or the justification offered. Turkiye has previously sent a proposal to both Moscow and Kyiv to end these strikes, though Ankara says neither side has acted on it.
Contship Jet sinks after drone strikes
Did you know? The Contship Jet was the ninth civilian ship struck in the Black Sea in October alone, resulting in more than 30 sailor deaths, according to i24NEWS.
International responses to Black Sea instability
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for a global maritime truce following the sinking of the Greek-owned vessel. Speaking at the UN Security Council, Mitsotakis said targeted civilian shipping is completely unacceptable and drives up insurance and shipping costs for consumers.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated from Atlanta, Georgia, that the U.S. is reviewing proposals from Turkiye and India to restore grain shipments. Rubio noted that while a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea would not solve the broader war, it would address threats to global food and energy security.
Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire
President Zelenskyy said he had discussed the format of involving Turkiye, Europe and other partners with Erdogan, along with the possibility of a meeting in Turkiye. He noted that strong signals must be sent to Russia that there is no alternative to peace.
Erdogan highlighted the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war through diplomatic means.
Zelenskyy confirmed he has discussed that format with Erdogan, as well as the possibility of holding meetings in Turkiye involving European partners.
Black Sea Shipping FAQ
Which countries are coordinating the maritime rescue and security?
Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkiye have held meetings between defense ministers to discuss security. Rescue operations for the Contship Jet involved the Bulgarian Navy and a French maritime patrol aircraft.
What is the status of the grain corridor?
President Zelenskyy and President Erdogan have reached an agreement to work on a new corridor to ensure safe navigation and food security, though a formal agreement with Russia has not been announced.
Who is suspected of the drone attacks?
i24NEWS reports that suspicion has fallen on Russia, though the Bulgarian government has been reluctant to officially assign blame.
“We cannot accept these attacks under any circumstances, regardless of who carries them out or what justification is offered,” Erdogan said.
“We cannot allow our seas to become a jungle,” he said.
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