Zelenskyy and Erdoğan discussed Black Sea shipping safety

Ukraine and Türkiye discussed rules intended to provide a minimum level of safety for civilian shipping in the Black Sea. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the issue following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Safety of civilian vessels

According to Zelenskyy, civilian vessels flying the flags of Türkiye and other countries should be able to enter Ukrainian ports without obstruction. The parties should also refrain from attacking such vessels in Ukrainian and Russian ports.

Erdoğan said that hostilities were spreading into the Black Sea amid the escalation. “It is clear that attacks on civilian vessels and steps that escalate tensions in the Black Sea will benefit no one,” the Turkish president stressed.

Grain corridor and negotiations

During their meeting in Istanbul on 31 October, the presidents agreed to work on an effective grain corridor. Zelenskyy linked this effort to food security, while Erdoğan said he planned to hold talks with Russia.

Zelenskyy also confirmed his readiness for a trilateral meeting with Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin if Ankara could arrange it. At the same time, the Ukrainian president ruled out territorial concessions and negotiations about Ukraine without Kyiv’s participation.