Turkey steps up diplomacy to revive Black Sea grain corridor

Turkey has intensified diplomatic efforts to restore the Black Sea grain corridor, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reporting a positive response from Ukraine after discussing the matter with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Speaking at a briefing in New York, Erdogan stressed that Black Sea security is vital for the region, stating the sea "is not a front of this war and never should be." He emphasized that restoring safe navigation would ensure food security and prevent the conflict from spreading, while reiterating Turkey's rejection of attacks on commercial vessels. Turkey has submitted a de-escalation proposal to both Ukraine and Russia, having developed a plan to resolve the regional crisis. Erdogan confirmed he discussed the issue with Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.