Erdogan Tells Zelensky Black Sea Attacks on Ships Must Stop

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that attacks by both Russia and Ukraine on commercial vessels in the Black Sea are inexplicable and that steps must be taken to stop them, according to a readout from Erdogan's office released on Thursday. The call came as Turkey, a NATO member that has maintained cordial relations with both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has repeatedly urged the warring sides to halt attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. Erdogan said Turkey is ready to do whatever it can to end the Russia-Ukraine war with a lasting peace, and that Ankara will continue its efforts to revive direct dialogue between the parties. The readout did not specify when the call took place beyond the Thursday release, nor did it detail any Ukrainian response. The statement reflects Turkey's continued positioning as a mediator in the conflict while protecting its own commercial and strategic interests in the Black Sea corridor.

Global Impact

Geopolitically, the readout reinforces Turkey's role as the only NATO member with working channels to both Moscow and Kyiv, giving Ankara outsized leverage over Black Sea de-escalation and any future grain-corridor arrangement. Economically, sustained attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea keep insurance and freight costs elevated for grain, sunflower oil and fertilizer exports, with knock-on effects for food-importing economies in North Africa and the Middle East.