Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has rejected Turkey’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, citing no signs of improvement in the situation and therefore no grounds to agree to the suggested truce.
Zakharova also noted that while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan mentioned the proposal in the media, Moscow has not received any official communication from Ankara regarding the ceasefire.
At the same time, Zakharova accused Ukraine of launching attacks on vessels, but made no mention of strikes carried out by the Russian military.
She also dismissed the prospect of reviving the Black Sea grain export initiative that had been in place from 2022 to 2023, calling such a move “inappropriate.”
Turkey has called for a halt to strikes in the Black Sea.
In an August 8 interview with Anadolu Agency, Foreign Minister Fidan said Ankara proposed that Russia and Ukraine agree to a moratorium on attacks targeting ships in the area.
Fidan said Turkey had already relayed its proposal to both sides and was now waiting for their response.
He added that Ankara urged Moscow and Kyiv to set up a mechanism to help bring an end to strikes in the region-a request that Fidan said had also previously come from the Ukrainian side.
“Military activity in the Black Sea poses a threat to civilian shipping and commercial trade,” Fidan said. According to him, Turkish-owned and Turkish-crewed vessels have also come under attack.
On August 4, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry called on the warring parties to take immediate, concrete steps to safeguard navigation in the Black Sea, warning that further escalation could have serious consequences, including for global food security.
This is not the first time Turkey has raised concerns about attacks on shipping in the region.
In December 2025, Fidan said Ankara had conveyed its concerns to both Russia and Ukraine, discussing the issue with representatives from both countries.
Turkey is now making another attempt to secure an agreement between Moscow and Kyiv-this time with an official proposal to create a mechanism to halt attacks on vessels.
(UAWire)
