According to the president, "The Black Sea should not be viewed as a place for disputes. This will only harm Russia and Ukraine, bringing no benefits. All parties demand safe navigation in this region, and it must be ensured."
Erdogan also expressed hope that after the meeting with Vladimir Putin, dialogue on a peaceful settlement with U.S. President Donald Trump would be possible. He added that he considers achieving peace in Ukraine quite realistic in the near future.
The Turkish leader noted: "U.S. President Donald Trump is actively involved in these negotiations. We also maintain contact with America. After our meeting with Putin, I hope we will have the opportunity to discuss the peace plan with Trump. Peace is already close, and we feel it. We just need to direct our efforts towards establishing peace."
On the same day, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on both sides to cease military actions in the Black Sea, referring to a recent strike on the port of Chernomorsk in the Odessa region, which damaged a foreign vessel.
According to preliminary data, as a result of the incident, the crew and truck drivers were evacuated, and no Turkish citizens were harmed.
Earlier, Kyiv reported that a Turkish vessel was damaged by a Russian airstrike aimed at port infrastructure in the Odessa region. According to the company Cenk, the vessel was carrying fruits and vegetables.
As noted by DW, there has been an increase in attacks on vessels carrying Russian cargoes in the Black Sea in recent weeks. For example, on December 2, an attack was recorded on the tanker Midvolga 2, which was located about 80 nautical miles from the Turkish coast, traveling from Russia to Georgia.
Additionally, on November 28, two tankers flying the Gambian flag - Kairos and Virat - were attacked near the Bosporus. According to Reuters, both vessels belong to the so-called "shadow fleet" of Russia and are under Western sanctions.
