Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Turkey has submitted a proposal to Russia for a moratorium mechanism on attacks in the Black Sea following strikes on vessels. Fidan said in an interview with Anadolu that the initiative originated from Ukraine, which had previously made the request to Ankara. Turkey has passed the proposal to Russian officials and is awaiting a response from the Kremlin.
Fidan said Ankara called on both sides to establish a system to declare a moratorium on naval strikes. He noted that safety in the Black Sea directly affects Ukrainian grain exports, port operations, and global food supply stability. Attacks on ships and harbor infrastructure create serious risks for the entire international supply network.
Risks to commercial shipping
The Turkish foreign minister expressed particular concern over recent developments in the Black Sea. He explained that while the warring parties initially targeted military sites and ports, strikes have since expanded to commercial vessels. Some of the affected ships are owned by Turkey, fly the Turkish flag, or have Turkish crew members on board.
Fidan stated that both sides are striking each other's vital logistics facilities, which risks spreading the conflict further into the civilian sector. He warned that the war will continue and escalate until Ukraine and Russia are ready to make mutual concessions. According to Fidan, the parties will return to talks only when continuing hostilities becomes harder to accept than making a compromise.
Grain exports and regional security
The proposal comes amid growing challenges for agricultural trade in the region. At the beginning of August, Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi stated that the current situation with grain exports is more complex than it was in 2022.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the United Arab Emirates could potentially assist with security efforts in the Black Sea.
