President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that the escalation of tensions in the Black Sea serves no one’s interests. He stated, “Such attacks are absolutely unacceptable to us, regardless of who they come from and what justifications are provided. We urge all parties to act responsibly in this matter.”
Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to continuing negotiations with Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. He believes that reaching agreements in this area could also provide a significant boost to efforts aimed at establishing lasting peace in Ukraine.
Context
- On September 21, Bloomberg reported that attacks in the Black Sea have disrupted grain exports from Ukraine and Russia, which account for 25% of the world’s wheat trade. Russia has been blocking Ukrainian ports with missile strikes and drone attacks but is also unable to fully export grain through the Black Sea due to threats from Ukrainian drones. The agency likened the importance of the Black Sea for global wheat trade to that of the Strait of Hormuz for the oil market.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine is ready to guarantee safe navigation in the Black Sea, provided Russia is also willing to de-escalate. However, the Kremlin has rejected all of Kyiv’s proposals regarding the Black Sea.
- On October 12, during a speech at the Warsaw Security Forum, President Zelensky warned that ongoing shelling in the Black Sea could lead to a crisis in agriculture within two to three months.
