Zelenskyy and Erdoğan discuss Black Sea security and Ukraine's export corridor
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and discussed security in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian President's Office reported.
The leaders discussed security in the Black Sea, including how to ensure the operation of the maritime export corridor. According to Zelenskyy, countries on every continent depend on Ukrainian food exports, and various options for fully restoring them are currently on the table.
"What is needed is simply Russia's readiness to stop its terrorist strikes on our infrastructure, so that Ukraine can reciprocally halt its long-range responses," the president stressed.
Zelenskyy thanked Erdoğan for his consistent support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. According to him, Russia's war against Ukraine must end "with dignity and respect for international law."
The president informed the Turkish leader about contacts with the American team. The sides also discussed bilateral issues — the free trade area and a potential Drone Deal — an agreement on drones.
The day before, Türkiye had already presented Ukraine and Russia with a proposal for de-escalation in the Black Sea — the country developed a plan to resolve the crisis in the region.
Zelenskyy said that Putin wants to seize Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and other Ukrainian cities. According to him, war and instability are spreading around the world because of the Russian leader.
The president previously also said that normal life and the principles of international law cannot be restored without returning annexed Crimea to Ukrainian control. Russia began demonstrating its disregard for the international order with its occupation of the peninsula in 2014.
