OMM Newsroom
Turkey has proposed a maritime ceasefire to Russia and Ukraine to prevent the war from expanding in the Black Sea, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday.
Speaking to journalists in Baku, Fidan said Ankara had conveyed the proposal to Moscow and Kyiv and was seeking common ground amid growing concerns about the safety of commercial shipping.
Fidan said he discussed the proposal this week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, held in Baku.
Turkey has received responses from both sides, but no agreement has been reached and no timeline has been set, he said.
The diplomatic initiative followed reports of drone attacks on commercial vessels in Romanian territorial waters. The attacks have raised concerns that the maritime confrontation could spread closer to NATO territory.
Turkey’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Basat Öztürk, also recently confirmed that Ankara was working with Moscow and Kyiv to stop attacks on commercial vessels and secure a maritime ceasefire.
The initiative reflects Ankara’s efforts to protect shipping in the Black Sea while keeping diplomatic channels open with both countries.
Black Sea shipping disruptions could affect food and energy supplies
Speaking in Baku, Fidan said disruptions to shipping in the Black Sea could threaten global food supplies, particularly wheat exports to Africa. The situation could also drive up food and energy prices, he said.
Fidan added that risks had increased further because of disruptions on other key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Turkey mediated the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2022. Despite the war, the agreement enabled more than 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural products to reach global markets.
Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023, saying restrictions affecting its agricultural exports had not been lifted.
Turkey maintains ties with both countries
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ankara has maintained ties with both countries and retained its position as a potential mediator.
Turkey controls the maritime passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. This position places the country at the center of regional maritime security issues.
