Attacks on civilian vessels could further escalate tensions in Black Sea: Turkish president - Anadolu Ajansı

Attacks on civilian vessels could further escalate tensions in Black Sea, which would serve serves no one's interests, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a Saturday joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In his meeting with Zelenskyy, who arrived earlier Saturday in Istanbul for a working visit, the two addressed recent intensified efforts to ensure safety in the Black Sea, said Erdogan.

Underlining that the meeting also addressed ensuring Black Sea maritime safety, Erdogan said that Ankara has been "actively" working to protect maritime safety and stability.

"However, in parallel with the recent escalation, we are witnessing the conflict spreading into the Black Sea," he said.

"We cannot accept these attacks under any circumstances, regardless of who carries them out or what justification they may offer," he added, urging both parties to act responsibly and conduct themselves accordingly.

Erdogan vowed that Ankara would continue to hold talks with both sides on restoring safety in the Black Sea.

Expressing his pleasure at welcoming President Zelenskyy to Türkiye once again, Erdogan lamented that the fighting in Ukraine is continuing unabated.

Noting the destruction caused by the war, Erdogan expressed condolences to Zelenskyy for those who have lost their lives in the war.

"We welcome the renewed momentum behind initiatives aimed at ending the war through diplomatic means, particularly through the efforts of US President Trump," Erdogan said.

Erdogan underlined that the talks between Ukraine and Russia, hosted by Türkiye, had shown that concrete results can be achieved through diplomacy.

"Even at this stage, we maintain that there can be no losers in a just peace," he said.

The Turkish leader expressed Ankara's readiness to make "every possible effort to pave the way for peace" in Ukraine.

Erdogan voiced hope for fresh momentum to efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, helped by a possible deal over safety in the Black Sea.

He said they intend to advance the process through discussions with Russia as well.

“Today, we once again reaffirmed our commitment to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of our strategic partner, Ukraine," he said.

"The entry into force, as of October 1, of the free trade agreement signed between our countries in 2022 represents an important milestone in our bilateral economic and trade relations.

"This agreement has brought us one step closer to our target of achieving a bilateral trade volume of $10 billion," he said.

Turkish companies that remained in Ukraine despite the war, which began in 2022, will play a significant role in the country's reconstruction, he added.