Zelensky meets Erdoğan in Istanbul: Black Sea security in focus
The Ukrainian president is on a working visit to Turkey at Erdoğan's invitation. After Russian drone attacks on merchant ships, Ankara is seeking a mediating role.
Archive image · Photo: President.ua / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travels to Istanbul today, Oct. 31, for a working visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This was announced on X by Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish presidency's communications directorate. According to him, the talks will cover “steps that can be taken to further develop bilateral cooperation” between Turkey and Ukraine, as well as the war and Black Sea security.
The situation in the Black Sea has worsened in recent weeks: Russian drones struck several merchant ships. Earlier in October, Erdoğan discussed the matter by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkey is trying to balance its role as a potential mediator, its economic ties with Moscow and its support for Kyiv's defence.
Ankara helped set up the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2022 and hosted three rounds of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in 2025.