Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Turkish House in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Axar.az informs, citing Turkish media, during the meeting, Erdogan said Turkiye would continue its efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end through a lasting peace, while calling on both sides to act responsibly regarding the safety of commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

Emphasizing the need to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, Erdogan urged the parties to act responsibly over attacks on commercial vessels. He said there could be “no justification for attacks on commercial ships.”

Erdogan also said efforts to further develop Turkiye-Ukraine relations would continue. He noted that expanding cooperation in various areas, particularly energy, mining and the defense industry, would benefit both countries.

It should be noted that several Turkish vessels have come under attack by Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea this year.