Zelensky to visit Turkey on Saturday to discuss the war and Black Sea security

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Turkey on Saturday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The talks will focus on the war launched by Russia against Ukraine and the security situation in the Black Sea, the Turkish presidential office said on the social platform X.

According to the office, the leaders will meet in Istanbul and discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine, as well as regional and international developments.

Turkey's position on attacks on ships

Turkey is unhappy about attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in September, Erdogan called such attacks unacceptable. Ankara has already sent Russia and Ukraine a proposal to stop attacks on civilian ships, but it has not won support.

Turkey's mediating role

Turkey has previously hosted several rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine in an effort to achieve a lasting ceasefire and a peace agreement. On Wednesday, in a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Erdogan said Turkey was ready to support efforts to restore the diplomatic process between Ukraine and Russia and to end the war through negotiations, according to Erdogan's office.