A Turkish diplomat told AFP on 17/9 that Turkey has shared a memorandum and a draft document with Russia and Ukraine to find a solution for the ongoing attacks in the Black Sea.
The draft is inspired by the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in 2022. This initiative previously allowed Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea without attacks.
UAVs from Russia attacked a cargo ship near Odessa port on 3/9. Video: Zvezda
Moscow withdrew from the agreement in 7/2023, citing Kyiv and western countries' failure to comply with its terms. Russia also accused Ukraine of using the shipping corridor to launch drone attacks against Russia.
Ukraine subsequently established an alternative maritime route along the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.
The Turkish diplomat stated that the current route includes a segment of about 6-8 km where Ukrainian vessels must leave territorial waters and pass through international waters, making it a high-risk area. Ankara proposed establishing a transportation corridor through the territorial waters of regional countries, including Turkey and Georgia. Another option is to build a route along the eastern and southern Black Sea coasts.
This information was released after numerous commercial ships, including those connected to Turkey, were attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Black Sea. According to a Turkish defense source, nearly 90 civilian vessels were attacked in 8 alone.
Ukraine's UAV attacks targeted Russian ships in the Black Sea. Video: USF
Turkey's IMEAK Chamber of Shipping reported that at least 22 Turkish-owned vessels were attacked in 7 and 8. At least four ships were attacked in the past half-month, with the latest incident occurring on 17/9. At least three Turkish citizens died, and many were injured.
IMEAK data also indicates that 226 civilian and commercial vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea since the Ukraine conflict erupted, with 163 incidents occurring this year.
Turkish and Russian officials have not yet commented on this information.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiga suggested that the option to halt attacks in the Black Sea could be discussed during a meeting between president Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Sybiga stated that Kyiv's goal is to achieve a ceasefire with Russia, which could include halting attacks on energy infrastructure and a Black Sea ceasefire.
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A cargo ship in the Black Sea on 7/2/2024. Photo: Reuters
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan last month called for parties to adopt a "suspension" of attacks on cargo ships in the Black Sea. However, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov rejected the proposal, deeming the idea "unrealistic" and "impossible to monitor".
Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter in 8, reported that Kyiv had sent a proposal to Moscow via an intermediary, urging both sides to cease attacks on each other's civilian targets in the Black Sea, following Russia's intensified attacks on cargo ships in the region in retaliation for Ukraine's operations.
Thanh Danh (according to AFP, Kyiv Post)
