Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Istanbul at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler welcomed Zelenskyy at the airport, where he arrived aboard a Ukrainian presidential aircraft.
Zelenskyy said they had arrived in Istanbul with his team and would hold important talks with Erdoğan. He said they were working to strengthen the protection of his people and stressed that important issues concerning maritime transport in the Black Sea were on the agenda. Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran had announced that the talks would address bilateral cooperation between Türkiye and Ukraine, the Russia-Ukraine war and Black Sea security.
Attacks by Russia and Ukraine on vessels in the Black Sea have intensified in recent months. Following incidents that also affected Turkish-flagged vessels, Ankara called for a moratorium on attacks against ships in August. Kyiv said it was ready to accept the moratorium, while Moscow showed no interest in reducing tensions, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Türkiye led efforts to establish the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2022 and hosted three rounds of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul in 2025.