Turkey is ready to take responsibility for the maritime component of future international security guarantees for Ukraine. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said this in Kyiv during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
According to Fidan, the broader framework of guarantees may include land, sea and air elements. The maritime part is especially important for the Black Sea, where safe navigation, port operations, energy infrastructure and export routes remain strategic issues for Ukraine and its partners.
What Ankara is offering
Fidan said Turkey has reached understanding with relevant states and that allied naval forces are already conducting planning in this direction. In practical terms, this means the maritime track is not only a political idea, but a field where defense and naval specialists are preparing possible formats of cooperation.
For Ukraine, this matters because the sea is part of economic security. Black Sea routes affect grain exports, port revenue, insurance risks, logistics costs and the stability of critical infrastructure. Any future guarantee model that ignores the maritime dimension would be incomplete.
Crimea, navigation and regional security
Turkey also repeated support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and confirmed that it does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea. Fidan separately emphasized support for Crimean Tatars and their rights.
The signal from Ankara is important for investors as well as diplomats. A stronger Black Sea security architecture could reduce uncertainty for port logistics, energy projects, reconstruction cargoes and trade flows. It would also link security guarantees with practical economic resilience.
The statement comes as Ukraine and Turkey deepen bilateral economic ties, including through the ratification of a free trade agreement. If maritime security becomes more predictable, trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries could gain an additional layer of confidence.
