Turkey's New Agreement Initiative for Civilian Ships in the Black Sea

Turkey has forwarded a new draft agreement to the Russian and Ukrainian parties with the aim of ending attacks targeting civilian and commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

Draft Proposal from Ankara

Turkey has sent a memorandum of understanding to the relevant countries aiming to establish a new mechanism between the parties to ensure the security of maritime transport in the Black Sea region. It was stated that the initiative was launched following the recent increase in attacks targeting commercial ships in the region.

Rise in Attacks

It was reported that unmanned aerial vehicles are frequently used in Black Sea conflicts and that numerous Turkish ships have also been affected by the incidents. According to data from the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping, hundreds of civilian and commercial ships have been damaged since the beginning of the war.

Approaches of the Parties

While Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had previously called for a moratorium, different evaluations came from the Russian and Ukrainian fronts. While Moscow found the proposal unrealistic, the Kiev side is evaluating potential ceasefire options within the scope of international talks.