Ankara is ready to take a leading role in the naval component of future international security guarantees for Ukraine, which would also include land and air components. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said this during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv.
According to Fidan, allied countries are already preparing relevant plans.
“Turkey has agreed to lead the naval component [of the guarantees]. We have reached a mutual understanding with our allies on this issue. The naval forces of the respective allied countries are already carrying out planning in this area,” the Turkish foreign minister said.
Fidan also emphasized that the risk of the conflict spreading, which Turkey has warned about since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine, remains serious. According to him, the escalation of tensions in various forms, as well as developments threatening security in the Black Sea, only increase these concerns.
“We do not want the war to spread to the Black Sea. Attacks on ports, tankers and fishing vessels that endanger the lives of civilians are unacceptable,” the Turkish foreign minister said, calling on all sides to act with caution and responsibility.
Fidan also reaffirmed Turkey’s support for “Ukraine’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty.”
In recent weeks, Ukraine and Russia have intensified strikes on each other’s vessels and maritime infrastructure in the Black and Azov seas. According to Ukrainian military and security officials, Ukrainian drones have struck nearly 150 tankers, bulk carriers and other types of vessels belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in both maritime areas over a ten-day period, in what has already been described as the largest naval confrontation in decades.
Russian forces, meanwhile, have carried out strikes on maritime terminals and civilian vessels in Odessa region for several consecutive days. Infrastructure facilities in the ports of Odessa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk have been targeted. Russian military officials claim that the targets include terminals, fuel storage facilities and locations used for unloading military cargo.
Following these developments, global grain prices have risen by at least 13% since the beginning of July. Ukraine and Russia export a significant share of their grain through Black Sea ports.
