Zelensky and Erdoğan agree in Istanbul to continue work on restoring the Black Sea grain corridor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met in Istanbul on 31 October. At a joint press conference after the meeting, the leaders announced that Ukraine and Türkiye had agreed to continue work on restoring the Black Sea grain corridor.

Erdoğan said the conflict was spilling over into the Black Sea and stressed that attacks on civilian ships would benefit no one. "Whoever they come from and whatever their justification, it is impossible for us to accept these attacks in any way," Erdoğan said, calling on all parties to act responsibly.

The Turkish president reaffirmed his country's commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, and said Turkish companies would make a significant contribution to Ukraine's reconstruction.

Zelensky confirmed that agreement had been reached on work on the grain corridor. "We are currently preparing for the trilateral format between Ukraine, the United States and Russia, which is expected to take place in the first half of November," the Ukrainian president said.

According to Zelensky, the sides discussed the possibility of involving Türkiye and Europe in this process, as well as holding meetings in Türkiye. He also said defence-industry cooperation between the two countries would grow stronger and that the free trade agreement between Ukraine and Türkiye had already entered into force.

Zelensky arrived in Istanbul earlier the same day with a Ukrainian delegation. Before the visit he said there were important issues concerning shipping in the Black Sea; the programme also included a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed in Istanbul in July 2022 with the mediation of Türkiye and the UN and allowed grain exports from Ukrainian ports. Russia withdrew from the deal in July 2023. The free trade agreement between Ukraine and Türkiye was signed in February 2022.