Turkey sends draft Black Sea pact to Russia and Ukraine to end drone strikes on civilian ships

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Turkey has circulated a draft memorandum to Russia and Ukraine seeking to halt drone strikes against merchant shipping in the Black Sea, with at least 25 Turkish-owned vessels hit since late June. The proposal draws on the framework of the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, which Russia walked away from in July 2023. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had already called for a moratorium on such strikes in August, but the demand produced no results.

A Turkish diplomat confirmed that Ankara had shared the draft text with both Moscow and Kyiv, seeking 'a solution to those strikes taking place in the Black Sea.'

The initiative comes after drone strikes hit two Turkish-owned container ships — the Lider Bordo Mavi and its tow vessel the Lider Kocatepe — leading Turkey to summon Ukraine's envoy in August.

Strike rates have climbed as both sides look to erode the other's export income; the war is now in its fifth year, and Turkish-flagged ships are finding themselves caught in the crossfire with growing frequency.