---
title: "Fidan: Turkey has stepped up diplomatic efforts to reach agreements in the Black Sea"
description: "Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Ankara has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to reach agreements on the situation in the Black Sea. The details of the new format have not been disclosed."
date: 2026-09-16T03:26:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ankara-stepped-up-talks-on-black-sea-agreements
tags: [turkey, black-sea, diplomacy, hakan-fidan, ukraine, shipping]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Fidan: Turkey has stepped up diplomatic efforts to reach agreements in the Black Sea

![Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan gestures while speaking in front of the Turkish flag on Ankara's diplomatic efforts for Black Sea agreements](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/16/ankara-aktivizirovala-peregovory-po-chernomu-moryu/ankara-aktivizirovala-peregovory-po-chernomu-moryu-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Ankara has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to reach agreements in the Black Sea.
- Turkey is in talks with the parties, but the details of the new format and the terms of the agreements have not been disclosed.
- Ukraine has no full-fledged alternative to the Black Sea ports: the monthly volume of shipments is around 5–6 million tons, and a blockade of the ports could cost more than 10% of GDP.
- Publications show differing interpretations: from agreements on shipping to a call for peace talks in Istanbul.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Ankara has recently intensified its diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching agreements on the situation in the Black Sea. According to the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the country is in talks with the relevant parties and is trying to facilitate the advancement of the negotiation process. "We have recently stepped up our efforts to reach an agreement on the Black Sea," he noted, emphasizing that the Turkish side continues its contacts on this issue.

### Ankara's diplomatic activity

Fidan's statement marks a new phase of Turkish diplomatic activity around the Black Sea. Previously, Ankara had already played a notable role in international agreements related to the safety of shipping and the functioning of the region. Now the Turkish side is again attempting to use diplomatic channels to work out agreements. At the same time, the minister's public statement does not disclose the details of any possible new format or the specific terms of future agreements, leaving room for various interpretations.

### Economic context: Ukraine's dependence on Black Sea ports

The intensification of talks against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions takes on particular significance for Ukraine's economy. According to available data, Kyiv has no full-fledged alternative to the Black Sea ports for exporting industrial and agricultural products: the country needs to transport around 5–6 million tons of cargo per month, while the European transport system is not yet ready to handle such volumes. The Ukrainian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce previously stated that a blockade of the ports could cost Ukraine more than 10% of its GDP.

### Risks to food security

The Turkish side has also drawn attention to the broader consequences of escalation in the Black Sea. In particular, Ankara has warned of risks to global food security linked to disruptions in shipping and supply chains in the region. This strengthens Turkey's case for seeking a diplomatic solution and makes the Black Sea one of the priority directions of its foreign policy.

### Contradictory data

Publications on the topic show differences in how the Turkish side's statements are interpreted. On the one hand, Fidan's initial statement and RBC-Ukraine materials focus on agreements on the safety of shipping and the functioning of the Black Sea. On the other hand, a number of outlets interpret Ankara's activity as a call for Kyiv and Moscow to return to talks in Istanbul, i.e. as a step toward a broader peaceful settlement. The specific terms and format of possible agreements are not disclosed in the parties' statements, so the degree of connection between the diplomatic efforts on shipping and potential political negotiations remains a matter of varying assessments.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Ankara has stepped up talks on agreements in the Black Sea, says Turkey's Foreign Ministry](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ankara-aktivizuvala-peregovori-shchodo-domovlenostey-1789524535.html) - Первичное заявление Фидана об активизации усилий по Черному морю; контекст о 5–6 млн тонн грузов и рисках для ВВП.
- [Turkey has sharply stepped up its activity: what Ankara is trying to achieve in Russia's war against Ukraine](https://world.comments.ua/news/turkey/turciya-rezko-aktivizirovalas-chego-ankara-pytaetsya-dobitsya-v-voyne-rf-protiv-ukrainy-816298.html) - Подтверждает активизацию Турции; интерпретирует цели Анкары в контексте конфликта.
- [Turkey called on Kyiv and Moscow to return to talks in Istanbul](https://korrespondent.net/world/4910975-turtsyia-pryzvala-kyev-y-moskvu-vernutsia-k-perehovoram-v-stambule) - Альтернативная трактовка: активность Анкары как призыв к мирным переговорам в Стамбуле.
- [Turkey warned of risks to food security due to escalation in the Black Sea](https://ukragroconsult.com/ru/news/turcziya-predupredila-o-riskah-dlya-prodovolstvennoj-bezopasnosti-iz-za-eskalaczii-v-chernom-more/) - Подтверждает предупреждение Турции о рисках для продовольственной безопасности.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What did Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan state?
**A:** Fidan stated that Turkey has recently stepped up its diplomatic efforts to reach agreements on the situation in the Black Sea and continues negotiations with the relevant parties.

### Q: Have the details of the new format of the agreements been disclosed?
**A:** No, Fidan's statement does not disclose the details of any possible new format or the specific terms of the agreements.

### Q: Why is the Black Sea important for Ukraine's economy?
**A:** Ukraine has no full-fledged alternative to the Black Sea ports: it needs to transport around 5–6 million tons of cargo per month, and a blockade of the ports could cost more than 10% of GDP.

### Q: Are there differences in how Turkey's statements are interpreted?
**A:** Yes: some outlets focus on agreements on shipping, while others interpret Ankara's activity as a call for Kyiv and Moscow to return to talks in Istanbul.