Turkey proposes separate Black Sea routes for Russian and Ukrainian ships

Turkey has proposed separate Black Sea routes for Russian and Ukrainian civilian vessels, Milliyet reported. The newspaper said Moscow and Kyiv had not yet given a clear response.

Ukrainian vessels would travel toward the Bosporus along Romania's and Bulgaria's coasts. Russian ships would take a different route along Georgia and Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed the initiative to both sides, according to Kommersant's account of the Turkish newspaper's report.

The proposal concerns civilian shipping safety. Its presentation does not mean the routes have been agreed or the corridors have opened.

The initiative comes amid attacks on Black Sea shipping. Russia's Defense Ministry says it targets vessels carrying military cargo for Ukrainian forces. The Kremlin describes Russian strikes as responses to Ukrainian attacks.

Bloomberg reported the previous week that Turkey and the United Nations had initiated renewed discussions on a Black Sea truce.