President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Russia and Ukraine establish a mutual agreement to refrain from attacking civilian vessels as they enter each other’s ports to ensure basic security in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian leader proposed that neutral ships, including those flying the Turkish flag, be granted safe passage as a minimum measure to protect merchant shipping from recent escalations.
The proposal follows a visit to Istanbul on Oct 31, where Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to coordinate on the Black Sea grain corridor. The two leaders also discussed a planned meeting between peace negotiators from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine scheduled for the first half of November, as well as the implementation of a new free trade agreement between the two nations.
