Russia and Türkiye discuss Black Sea security and Ukraine crisis
War ships of the NATO Standing Maritime Group-2 take part in a military drill on the Black Sea, 60km from Constanta city March 16, 2015. (AFP Photo)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Moscow, Tanju Bilgic, held talks on March 31 in Moscow to discuss international and regional developments, with a special focus on maritime security in the Black Sea and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The meeting, held at the request of the Turkish side, covered bilateral efforts to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and broader geopolitical issues of mutual concern.
Maritime security in Black Sea highlighted
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, both officials exchanged views on regional issues, emphasizing the importance of Black Sea security.
Discussions considered existing Russian-Turkish cooperation frameworks designed to enhance the safety of maritime navigation in the region.
The current state of the Black Sea was reviewed in the context of the Ukraine conflict and ongoing efforts to resolve it by addressing its underlying causes.
Russia reaffirms commitment to Black Sea Grain Initiative
The Russian Foreign Ministry also reiterated the importance of fulfilling obligations under the Russia–U.N. Memorandum on the normalization of Russian agricultural exports.
Officials highlighted several key expectations for progress, including:
- Restoration of banking payment mechanisms
- Resolution of insurance and transport logistics issues
- Unblocking of frozen Russian assets
- Resumption of spare parts and equipment supplies
These issues remain critical to the full implementation of the agreement, which Moscow considers essential for maintaining global food security.
