Zelenskyy and Erdogan agree in Istanbul to work on a new Black Sea grain corridor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Saturday, 31 October, in Istanbul to work on a Black Sea grain corridor, the two leaders said at a joint news conference, according to AFP, Reuters and Ukrinform.

Black Sea

Erdogan called on both sides to stop targeting civilian vessels. “We cannot accept these attacks under any circumstances, regardless of who carries them out,” he said. Ankara has sent Moscow and Kyiv a proposal to end such attacks, but says neither side has acted on it. Erdogan said Turkey would continue talks with the parties, including Russia, and that a deal on safe navigation could give “fresh impetus” to efforts for a lasting peace.

Zelenskyy accused Russia of making the situation at sea difficult and said a significant part of the talks focused on Black Sea security. On the same day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Atlanta after a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, said there was growing interest in a limited Black Sea ceasefire for grain and energy shipments and that Washington was reviewing proposals from Turkey and India.

Peace talks

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is preparing for a trilateral format with the US and Russia in the first half of November and that he discussed with Erdogan other options, including involving Turkey and Europe and a possible meeting in Turkey. The Kremlin has said the next round is planned in the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskyy also cited the Oleshky evacuation under a local truce as proof that de-escalation is possible “when Russia itself is placed in a position where it has to take the necessary steps”.

Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence and noted that the Ukraine–Turkey free trade agreement has entered into force, with a target of $10 billion in bilateral trade.