Erdoğan and Zelensky in Istanbul: “We cannot accept” attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea, and a joint push for the grain corridor

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Volodymyr Zelensky met in Istanbul on Saturday, October 31, with navigation in the Black Sea at the centre of the talks. The Ukrainian president was in Turkey for a working visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, who welcomed him with an official ceremony at the presidential office in Dolmabahçe. Private talks followed, then enlarged talks between the delegations and joint statements to the press.

Attacks on civilian ships

In remarks published by the Turkish presidency’s Communications Directorate, Erdoğan said Turkey has worked since the start of the war to preserve security and stability in the Black Sea. But with the recent escalation, he noted, the fighting has spread to the Black Sea as well. “We cannot in any way accept these attacks, whoever they come from and whatever their justification,” he said of the strikes on civilian ships, calling on all sides to act responsibly. Ankara, he added, will continue its contacts to restore the safety of navigation and intends to discuss the issue with Russia too.

The Turkish president welcomed the revival of diplomatic efforts to end the war, “especially the efforts of US President Trump,” and recalled the Ukraine–Russia talks hosted by his country. “A just peace has no losers,” he said, declaring Turkey ready to do everything to open the road to peace. He also repeated Ankara’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

Grain corridor and a free trade agreement

Zelensky, in a post on Telegram, called the meeting “important and substantive” and noted that it took place, symbolically, on International Black Sea Day. The two presidents discussed new ideas on the sea and on food security, he wrote, and agreed to work so that the Black Sea “grain corridor” operates and is effective. The Ukrainian president also met Turkish energy companies and said he expects increased deliveries of generators and other energy equipment from next week.

Both leaders dwelt on the free trade agreement signed in 2022, which entered into force on October 1. Erdoğan said it brings the two countries closer to the goal of $10 billion (about €8.6 billion) in trade and that Turkish companies that did not leave Ukraine will help rebuild it.

Taking part in the talks were Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, MIT chief İbrahim Kalın, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Rustem Umerov, whom the Turkish presidency lists as head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service. The statements came after the sinking of the Contship Jet in the Black Sea and while a ceasefire at sea had also been discussed at the G20 summit in Atlanta.