US and Canada see growing interest in a limited Black Sea ceasefire after Turkey's Erdogan condemns attacks on civilian ships

Turkey's proposal to ban strikes on civilian Black Sea vessels has gained traction, with Washington and Ottawa both signalling support for a limited maritime ceasefire even as fighting continues on land. President Erdogan pressed both Kyiv and Moscow to halt attacks on commercial shipping, warning the violence serves no one's interests.

Russia has been forced to reroute grain exports through the Arctic as Black Sea battles disrupt normal shipping lanes.

Erdogan told a joint press conference with Zelensky in Istanbul that attacks on civilian vessels are 'unacceptable under any circumstances, regardless of who carries them out'.