Turkiye’s Erdogan urges Russia and Ukraine to stop Black Sea attacks

The agreement focuses on creating a safer route through the Black Sea for grain shipments. It matters because attacks and insecurity have disrupted commercial shipping, threatening food and energy supplies. Erdogan said civilian-vessel attacks were unacceptable, regardless of who carried them out.

Zelenskyy said a significant part of his meeting with Erdogan focused on Black Sea security. He said Turkiye supported safe navigation and the restoration of normal living conditions. Erdogan said negotiations on safe navigation would continue, linking progress there to broader peace efforts.

The agreement was not presented as a completed corridor. The two leaders agreed to work on it, while Turkiye’s earlier proposal to stop attacks had not produced action from either Russia or Ukraine. The United States was also reviewing proposals from Turkiye and India to restart grain shipments.

A Black Sea grain corridor is an agreed maritime route that lets commercial ships carry grain while reducing the risk of military attack. It matters because the Black Sea connects major agricultural exporters with international buyers, and unsafe waters can delay or stop deliveries. The source describes the proposed corridor but does not specify its final design.

In practice, Russia, Ukraine, and other participants would need to identify approved routes and civilian ships. They could share sailing schedules, use inspections, and establish procedures for resolving incidents. The central mechanism is a mutual commitment not to attack vessels or the route while ships pass through it.

The Istanbul agreement remains a plan to work on such a corridor, not proof that one is operating. Erdogan said talks on safe navigation would continue. Rubio said the United States was reviewing Turkish and Indian proposals to restart grain shipments.

The Black Sea region is a major agricultural export hub, but there is no single worldwide percentage covering every grain and farm product that passes through it. Widely cited prewar estimates put Russia and Ukraine together at about 28 percent of global wheat exports and roughly 15 percent of corn exports. These figures describe traded exports, not all grain produced worldwide.

The scale comes from the countries’ large export roles and their ports on the Black Sea. Ships carry wheat, corn, sunflower products, and other commodities to buyers in many regions. When maritime access is disrupted, exporters may struggle to load cargo, while importers face delays and higher transport costs.

The article does not provide these percentages. It says the disruption threatens world food security and some energy security. Rubio described restoring shipments as a limited step that would not end the war but could address a critical part of it.

When civilian vessels are attacked or a sea route becomes unsafe, shipping companies may stop sailing or reroute vessels. That reduces the flow of grain and energy, delays deliveries, and can increase freight, insurance, and storage costs. Import-dependent countries may face tighter supplies and higher prices, although the size of the effect depends on duration and available alternatives.

The article gives a direct example: Rubio said the situation threatened world food security and some energy security. Erdogan said attacks on civilian ships served no one’s interests and were unacceptable, whatever their source or justification. These statements reflect the danger to both trade and crews.

A prolonged disruption could also damage confidence in the route and make normal commercial shipping harder to restore. The proposed corridor aims to reduce that risk through safe navigation arrangements. It would not solve the war, Rubio said, but could secure an important part of grain and energy shipments.

Turkiye can mediate because it keeps working relationships with both Russia and Ukraine. The article says Ankara has been angered by attacks on commercial shipping, but it has not broken its dialogue with either side. This gives it channels to present proposals and encourage practical agreements.

Its role is also strengthened by geography. The Turkish Straits connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, so Turkiye is central to regional maritime access. International law, including the Montreux Convention, gives Ankara important responsibilities and powers concerning passage through the straits, though that does not let it control the entire Black Sea.

The article shows Turkiye using this position actively. Ankara sent Russia and Ukraine a proposal to stop attacks, hosted Zelenskyy in Istanbul, and agreed with him to work on a grain corridor. Erdogan also said Turkiye was ready to support wider diplomatic efforts to end the war.

The earlier Black Sea Grain Initiative was a United Nations- and Turkiye-brokered arrangement launched in 2022. It allowed Ukraine to export grain through designated Black Sea routes during the war. The deal mattered because it created a monitored framework for civilian shipping while reducing fears that vessels would be attacked.

The mechanism depended on commitments by Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye, and the United Nations. Ships were inspected and their movements coordinated. However, the arrangement was temporary and required renewal. Russia withdrew in July 2023, saying its concerns about implementation and restrictions affecting its own agricultural exports had not been resolved.

That withdrawal ended the shared framework and made future shipping more uncertain. The current Istanbul proposal is therefore an effort to create another workable arrangement, but the article does not say whether it will repeat the earlier structure. Erdogan said talks on safe navigation would continue.

Commercial ships need agreements during war because civilian trade routes can cross contested waters. Without shared rules, ships may face attack, mines, boarding, detention, or mistaken identification. Clear protections help distinguish civilian transport from military activity and support the basic principle that civilians should not be targeted.

A maritime agreement can define approved routes, share ship schedules, arrange inspections, and create direct communication between military forces. It can also set procedures for investigating incidents and handling emergencies. These mechanisms reduce uncertainty, but they work only when the parties respect their commitments and have ways to address violations.

The article illustrates why this matters in the Black Sea. Erdogan said attacks on civilian vessels were unacceptable, while Zelenskyy called for safe navigation. The proposed grain corridor could protect food and energy shipments, but it would not end the war. Wider diplomacy would still be necessary for lasting security.