Zelensky and Erdogan meet in New York, discuss Black Sea security and grain exports
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York to discuss Black Sea security, the maritime export corridor, and bilateral issues including a free trade zone and a potential Drone Deal. Zelensky said full restoration of Ukrainian food exports requires Russia to stop strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, after which Ukraine would halt its long-range responses. No comment from Erdogan was available at the time of publication.
Key points
- Zelensky and Erdogan met in New York on 24 September 2026.
- Talks focused on Black Sea security and the operation of the maritime export corridor.
- Zelensky said Russia must stop strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure for exports to be fully restored, after which Ukraine would stop its long-range responses.
- The leaders discussed a free trade zone and a potential Drone Deal.
- Zelensky thanked Erdogan for Turkey's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
- Around 90% of Ukrainian raw-commodity exports transit through Black Sea ports around Odesa.
- EU High Representative Kaja Kallas called for stopping Russian attacks on Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea to prevent a global food crisis.
Why it matters
Black Sea shipping is the main channel for Ukrainian agricultural exports — roughly 90% of raw-commodity exports transit through ports around Odesa — so disruption has immediate global food-security implications. Ukraine is framing a reciprocal de-escalation — Russia halts strikes on infrastructure, Ukraine halts long-range responses — as the precondition for fully restoring exports. Turkey has already positioned itself as a potential broker, having proposed in August a moratorium on strikes against commercial vessels in the Black Sea, and the Black Sea security track is now being elevated across multiple diplomatic channels, including Ukraine–Turkey, Ukraine–WFP, and the EU.
What happened
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York on 24 September 2026. The leaders discussed Black Sea security, the operation of the maritime export corridor, and ways to restore Ukrainian food exports. Zelensky said that for exports to be fully restored, Russia must stop strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, after which Ukraine would halt its long-range responses. The two leaders also discussed bilateral issues including a free trade zone and a potential Drone Deal, and Zelensky briefed Erdogan on his contacts with the American team. Zelensky thanked Erdogan for Turkey's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. No comment from Erdogan was available at the time of publication. The meeting was paired with parallel diplomatic outreach: Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha met acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme Carl Skau to discuss global food security and Russian attacks on the Ukrainian maritime corridor. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas called for stopping Russian attacks on Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea to restore grain exports and prevent a global food crisis.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian sources centre Black Sea security and frame Russian strikes as the main obstacle to restoring food exports and to any reciprocal de-escalation. They highlight the bilateral deliverables discussed with Turkey — a free trade zone and a potential Drone Deal — alongside the multilateral food-security message, and emphasise Ukrainian gratitude for Turkey's support for territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Zelensky–Erdogan meeting is paired with Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha's outreach to the World Food Programme to underscore that the food-security argument is being made on multiple diplomatic tracks.
Where reporting differs
Ukrainian, EU and World Food Programme–side statements characterise Russian strikes on Black Sea port infrastructure as attacks on Ukrainian grain exports and a threat to global food security. Russia says its strikes target military infrastructure, logistics facilities and vessels transporting foreign weapons.
Background
Around 90% of Ukrainian raw-commodity exports transit through Black Sea ports around Odesa. Russia intensified strikes on port facilities in the Odesa region during the summer, disrupting Ukrainian exports. In August, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey had proposed to Russia and Ukraine a moratorium on strikes against commercial vessels in the Black Sea; Ankara said both sides received the proposal and was awaiting responses.