A proposed halt to civilian vessel attacks remains unanswered as Turkiye’s Erdogan urges Russia and Ukraine to stop Black Sea attacks

Istanbul talks focus on shipping

Erdogan met Zelenskyy in Istanbul as concerns continued over threats to civilian ships in the Black Sea. The Turkish president said attacks were unacceptable, whatever the reason or the party responsible.

Erdogan also urged all sides to behave responsibly. Turkiye has presented Russia and Ukraine with a proposal to stop attacks, but Ankara says neither country has taken action on it.

Leaders pursue grain corridor

Zelenskyy said he and Erdogan had agreed to work toward a Black Sea grain corridor. He thanked the Turkish leader for the talks and said they had considered proposals that could help.

Zelenskyy said an agreement could strengthen efforts to secure lasting peace in Ukraine. The talks took place as Rubio said international interest was growing in a limited ceasefire intended to protect grain and energy shipments from both countries.

Diplomacy and next steps

Rubio said a limited ceasefire would not end the war, but could address a specific risk to food and energy security. He made the remarks in Atlanta after a G20 foreign ministers meeting.

Erdogan welcomed renewed diplomatic efforts, including an initiative by US President Donald Trump. He said previous rounds of talks hosted by Turkiye showed diplomacy could produce tangible results.

The Kremlin said last week that another round involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States was planned for November in the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskyy said strong decisions were needed for peace and that support for Ukraine should continue.