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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday that Türkiye does not want the Russia-Ukraine war to expand into the Black Sea, warning that targeting ports, tankers and fishing boats there "cannot be justified."
Speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv, Fidan said the risk of the conflict widening, a concern raised since the start of the war, remained serious, with tensions escalating in various ways.
"We don't want the war to move into the Black Sea," Fidan said, adding that developments threatening the sea's security had deepened these concerns.
"Targeting ports, tankers and fishing boats (in the Black Sea), and putting civilians' lives at risk, cannot be justified," Fidan said, calling on all parties to act with prudence and responsibility.
Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly struck each other's ships in the Black Sea, a key waterway for both countries' exports, throughout the conflict since February 2022.
Fidan said Türkiye continues to explore new strategic approaches to breaking the cycle of the war, saying fresh ideas had been discussed in talks with the parties and with mediators.
Fidan said he believed it would be highly beneficial for the Istanbul-format talks, which he said had become especially visible over the past year, to continue in the same manner. He said the format had allowed officials from various fields on both sides to hold direct negotiations and build transparency, both within their own delegations and between them.
"The fact that the war is ongoing doesn't actually mean the talks won't continue in this format," Fidan said.
He noted that after the Istanbul talks, U.S. negotiators became involved and have been working toward a more conclusive resolution, noting, "As of today, unfortunately, the war is still ongoing, and there's an increasing risk of escalation."
Ankara has hosted several rounds of talks between Ukraine and Russia, at the start of the war and again in 2025.
Fidan said one of the most important components of any potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would be security guarantees for Ukraine, covering land, sea and air elements.
On Türkiye's expected contribution, Fidan said: "Türkiye agreed to lead on maritime elements, and we are aligned with our allies on this issue. Planning work on this is also being carried out by the naval forces of the relevant allied countries."
At the same news conference, Sybiha said potential talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin could be held in Türkiye.
"We state that negotiations, particularly a possible meeting between President Zelenskyy and Putin, could take place in Türkiye," Sybiha said.
Sybiha said direct talks at the highest level could help advance efforts to end the war.
"I believe only a summit of leaders can inject new momentum into the peace process," he said, adding, "As Ukraine, we are ready for a ceasefire."
This is a developing story and will be updated...
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