---
title: "Fidan: Turkey Has Passed Ukraine and Russia a Proposal for De-escalation in the Black Sea"
description: "Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Ankara has sent Ukraine and Russia a proposal for de-escalation in the Black Sea and is awaiting a response. The details of the initiative are not disclosed, but Turkey cites the threat to global food security and the experience of the 2022 \"grain agreement.\""
date: 2026-09-20T16:50:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/turkey-proposal-deescalation-black-sea-fidan
tags: [turkey, black-sea, ukraine, russia, hakan-fidan, grain-agreement, food-security, diplomacy]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Fidan: Turkey Has Passed Ukraine and Russia a Proposal for De-escalation in the Black Sea

![Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in front of the Turkish flag while announcing the de-escalation proposal in the Black Sea handed to Ukraine and Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/21/turciya-predlozhenie-deeskalaciya-chernoe-more-fidan/turciya-predlozhenie-deeskalaciya-chernoe-more-fidan-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Turkey has passed Ukraine and Russia a proposal for de-escalation in the Black Sea; details are not disclosed
- Fidan recalled the violated 2022 "grain agreement" and declared readiness to bring the process to completion
- Attacks on port infrastructure have reduced the operations of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne
- The European Union is in favor of a moratorium on military actions in the Black Sea
- Analysts point to the duality of Turkey's role: mediator vs. beneficiary of the Montre Convention

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Ankara has developed a concrete proposal for resolving the crisis in the Black Sea and has already sent it to both sides of the conflict — Ukraine and Russia. The Turkish diplomat made these remarks in an interview broadcast by NTV television and republished by RBC-Ukraine. According to Fidan, under the current conditions it is "very difficult" to achieve a lasting result in settling the situation, but Ankara believes that Kyiv and Moscow have a real choice: either continue the war, the destructive consequences of which both sides are aware of, or seek a compromise.

### "We Are Awaiting a Response": Details Remain Classified

"We have sent the proposal to both sides and are awaiting a response. We see that if the grain harvested from the fields does not reach the world markets, many countries will face food security problems," Fidan emphasized. At the same time, the Turkish foreign minister refused to disclose any details of the proposed measures, limiting himself to confirming the fact that the document had been delivered. This creates an information vacuum: neither Kyiv nor Moscow has publicly confirmed or denied receiving the proposal, and its content remains a subject of speculation.

### The Shadow of the 2022 "Grain Agreement"

Against the backdrop of the statement about the new proposal, Fidan recalled the "grain agreement" concluded in 2022 with the mediation of Turkey and the UN, which envisaged the unblocking of Ukraine's Black Sea ports and the creation of conditions for the safe export of grain. "A few years ago we concluded an agreement that was subsequently violated, but despite this, a de facto working system existed — the sides did not interfere. However, now they are actively interfering in each other's affairs," the Turkish diplomat noted. He added that Ankara is determined to bring "this matter" to a logical conclusion, which essentially means Turkey's readiness to once again act as an arbitrator, even if the formal 2022 document is no longer in force.

### Ports Under Attack: Economic Consequences

Due to Russian attacks on civilian shipping and port infrastructure, the operations of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne have been significantly reduced. The Ukrainian Ports Association emphasizes that further blockage of the maritime corridor could negatively affect not only the Ukrainian economy but also the global food market. It is precisely this argument — the threat to global food security — that Fidan brings to the forefront, positioning the Turkish proposal as a tool not only of regional but also of global stability.

### Brussels in Support of a Moratorium and Turkish Guarantees

Against the backdrop of recent events, the European Union has called for a moratorium on military actions in the Black Sea, believing that this would facilitate the safe export of Ukrainian grain. Earlier, in July 2026, Turkey had already provided Kyiv with security guarantees at sea, as noted by Russian and Azerbaijani media. Thus, Fidan's new proposal appears as a logical continuation of Ankara's course, which is consistently expanding its role in Black Sea security — from a mediator in the grain corridor to a guarantor of maritime routes.

### Contradictory Data

In open sources, there are differences in emphasis on Turkey's role. On the one hand, Fidan and official Turkish statements paint a picture of Ankara as an impartial mediator acting in the interests of global food security. On the other hand, a number of analytical publications (in particular, on inosmi.ru, August 2026) point out that the Montre Convention has effectively "freed Turkey's hands" in the Black Sea, allowing it to expand its military presence and dictate the terms of navigation. This raises the question of whether the Turkish proposal is purely a humanitarian instrument or whether it also carries elements of strengthening Ankara's strategic influence in the region. Both versions coexist in the public discourse, and a final assessment will only be possible after the sides disclose the content of the document.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Turkey Has Passed Ukraine and Russia a Proposal for De-escalation in the Black Sea](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/turechchina-peredala-ukrayini-ta-rf-propozitsiyu-1789922784.html) - Основной источник заявления Фидана, цитата NTV. Подтверждает факт передачи предложения обеим сторонам.
- [Hakan Fidan: Turkey Is Against the Spread of the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict to the Black Sea](https://1news.az/news/20260716150031104-KHakan-Fidan-Turtsiya-protiv-rasprostraneniya-rossiisko-ukrainskogo-konflikta-na-CHernoe-more) - Азербайджанское издание фиксирует позицию Турции против расширения конфликта на Чёрное море (июль 2026).
- [Turkey Promised Kyiv Security Guarantees at Sea](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/16/07/2026/6a58a6459a79477c959f5779) - Российское издание подтверждает, что Турция ранее давала Киеву гарантии безопасности на море (16.07.2026).
- [Turkey Has Set Its Eyes on the Black Sea: The Montre Convention Has Freed Its Hands](https://inosmi.ru/20260812/chernoe-more-279660704.html) - Аналитическая публикация (август 2026) о расширении роли Турции в Чёрном море в контексте Конвенции Монтре. Использована для блока противоречий.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly did Turkey propose to Ukraine and Russia?
**A:** Hakan Fidan confirmed that Ankara has sent the proposal to both sides and is awaiting a response, but he refused to disclose the details of the proposed measures. The content of the document has not been disclosed as of the time of publication.

### Q: What is the connection between the new proposal and the 2022 "grain agreement"?
**A:** Fidan directly recalled the 2022 agreement concluded with the mediation of Turkey and the UN. He noted that it was formally violated, but a de facto working system existed until the sides began actively interfering in each other's affairs. Ankara declared its intention to bring the process to a logical conclusion.

### Q: Why is Turkey raising the issue of food security?
**A:** Due to attacks on port infrastructure, the operations of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne have been significantly reduced. Fidan and the Ukrainian Ports Association warn that the blockage of the maritime corridor threatens not only the Ukrainian economy but also the global grain market.

### Q: What is the European Union's position?
**A:** Brussels has called for a moratorium on military actions in the Black Sea, believing that this would facilitate the safe export of Ukrainian grain.