Egypt, India and Türkiye offer ways to overcome Black Sea blockade, Zelensky says

The President made the statement during his address at the Sixth Summit of the International Crimea Platform, which is being held in New York, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Many [countries] have already joined efforts to protect food security and safe navigation in the Black Sea. Egypt, India and Türkiye have already put forward options for us, and they are on paper. We agree with the path that can bring security, and now we are waiting for Russia’s response,” Zelensky said.

He stressed that Ukraine is ready to do its part to ensure safe navigation and food security in the Black Sea if Russia also takes real steps toward de-escalation.

“We have to start somewhere, and Russia must start by respecting others. And basic respect for the world begins with simple things: food security, energy security, and the right of people to live without fear,” the President of Ukraine said.

According to him, Crimea remains the epicenter of Putin’s war and the cause of all the crises arising from hostilities in the Black Sea.

“If Russia had not stolen Crimea, if Putin had not turned Crimea into a source of war and a huge military base, grain and fertilizers, diesel fuel and oil would now be moving freely across the Black Sea, just as they did before Putin’s war against us. But he chose to break every possible rule. And now, on top of this, we see the war with Iran and other crises across the Middle East and the Gulf. They only add to what started so long ago – with Putin’s belief that he could start a war and get away with it,” the Ukrainian President noted.

As reported by Ukrinform, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Türkiye has recently stepped up diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement on the situation in the Black Sea and is holding talks with the parties in an effort to reconcile their positions.

https://www.ukrinform.net