Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy in New York that commercial shipping attacks in the Black Sea are unacceptable. The meeting on September 24 comes as Turkey pushes for a moratorium to secure merchant vessels amid escalating regional drone strikes.
Black Sea Shipping Under Fire as Turkish Leadership Demands Navigation Safety
Commercial shipping in the Black Sea has faced relentless disruption, prompting urgent diplomatic intervention from Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Volodymyr Zelenskiy in New York on September 24 to address mounting maritime security crises according to coverage from Tass. During their talks, Erdoğan stressed that navigational safety must be protected and that attacks on merchant ships cannot be justified.
The diplomatic push follows an alarming escalation of hostilities at sea. Turkey’s Chamber of Maritime Commerce (IMEAK) released figures showing that 226 civilian and commercial vessels have been attacked since the war began, with more than 70 percent of those incidents taking place this year alone. At least 27 Turkish-owned vessels have been hit since the start of June, resulting in the deaths of four Turkish nationals.
Stalled Diplomatic Proposals and the Search for Direct Negotiations
Ankara has grown increasingly frustrated with the indiscriminate nature of the maritime assaults. Top diplomat Hakan Fidan recently accused the warring parties of attacking all commercial shipping without distinguishing among them. In response, Turkish diplomats advanced a fresh proposal to Kyiv and Moscow aiming to establish a moratorium on strikes against civilian vessels. While Fidan confirmed that both capitals responded, he noted that their counter-demands and positions remain difficult to reconcile.
Despite the diplomatic friction, NATO member Turkey continues to maintain cordial ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, using its unique position to advocate for peace. Alongside Erdoğan in New York, the Turkish delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin, and Defense Industries Directorate head Haluk Gorgun as detailed by Tass. Beyond regional security, the leaders discussed expanding bilateral cooperation, touching upon energy and mineral extraction noted in presidential office readouts.
Broader Diplomatic Reactions to Black Sea Hostilities
