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Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz warned Monday that increasing attacks in the Black Sea pose serious risks to the safety of life and property, freedom of navigation, and global food security, as Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara separately described bilateral relations as "strategic in nature."
Yilmaz made the remarks while representing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Coalition of the Willing's online leaders' summit on Ukraine, held on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.
In a statement on the social media platform X following the summit, Yilmaz said participants discussed efforts to end the war and establish a just and lasting peace.
Yilmaz said Türkiye continues to support Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
"We believe the war must be ended through negotiation before it causes further loss of life and destruction," he noted.
"In particular, the recent increase in attacks in the Black Sea poses serious risks not only to the safety of life and property but also to navigational safety and global food security. Drawing on our experience from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, we are working to re-establish safe navigation," the Turkish VP added.
"As Ukraine's strategic partner and a member of the Coalition of the Willing, we will continue our determined, diplomacy-first efforts for a ceasefire and lasting peace," Yilmaz stated.
Separately, Ukraine's Ambassador to Ankara, Nariman Dzhelyalov, met with journalists in the Turkish capital to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukrainian independence, describing Türkiye-Ukraine relations as strategic.
"Today our relationship is strategic in nature," Dzhelyalov said, noting that Türkiye was among the first states to recognize Ukraine's independence.
Dzhelyalov said Ukraine's counteroffensives had recovered roughly 745 square kilometers of territory and that Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory had "significantly" limited Moscow's capacity to sustain the war.
He said Russian air attacks had increased substantially, with the capital, Kyiv, coming under intense bombardment, in particular during 2026.
Dzhelyalov said Ukraine is aware that the war in the Black Sea creates "serious risks" for civilian maritime transport.
"Unfortunately, there are sailors from various countries who have lost their lives or been injured, including Turkish citizens among the dead. On this occasion, on behalf of Ukraine, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the sailors who lost their lives due to the dangers created in the Black Sea by Russia's war against Ukraine. For us, every human life lost, regardless of nationality, is a tragedy," he noted.
"The Ukrainian side is ready to cooperate with the Turkish side to clarify the circumstances of the relevant incidents and to help ensure the safety of civilian maritime transport," Dzhelyalov said.
Dzhelyalov said no commercial justification could excuse putting sailors' lives at risk.
"Their safety must be an absolute priority. For this reason, Ukraine's position is clear: freedom of civilian maritime transport must be guaranteed. Ukraine is ready to support Türkiye's initiative for a reciprocal moratorium on attacks against civilian ships, commercial ports, and energy infrastructure in the Black Sea," Dzhelyalov said.
He said the Black Sea should be a sea of peace, trade, and cooperation rather than a battlefield.
Dzhelyalov said Ukraine remains ready for peace.
"Ukraine has never been an obstacle to peace and never will be. Türkiye, which has made significant mediation efforts throughout the war, knows our position very well. We consistently support ending the war through diplomatic means and achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace," Dzhelyalov said.
He said Ukraine is ready for "an immediate, unconditional, and comprehensive ceasefire," adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said he is ready for a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian leaders that could take place in Türkiye.
"This meeting could also take place with the mediation and participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Donald Trump," he added.
Dzhelyalov said both sides need to be ready for diplomacy to succeed.
"Our approach is this: the cost of continuing the war must be heavier for Russia — politically, militarily, and economically—than the cost of peace," he said.
He said Türkiye's stance on Crimea carries particular importance and that Türkiye firmly supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
"We greatly value Türkiye's mediation efforts as well," Dzhelyalov said, noting that one concrete result of the Istanbul negotiation process was the return of roughly 2,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war to their families.
Referring to the free trade agreement between the two countries, Dzhelyalov said Ukraine expects active participation from Turkish businesses in the country's reconstruction.
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