Camilla Jessen
Turkish media report upcoming negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Ankara.
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Ukrainian and Russian officials are expected to meet in Ankara on April 15–16 for discussions on Black Sea security, according to several Turkish media outlets citing the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.
The talks—set to take place at the Turkish Naval Forces Command headquarters—are reportedly aimed at advancing military planning and maintaining stability in the region, particularly in the event of a broader ceasefire agreement.
While Turkey has not confirmed the full list of attendees, CNN Türk, TGRT, and Anadolu Agency report that the dialogue will also include military representatives from undisclosed foreign nations.
The Ankara meeting comes on the heels of a 30-day ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea, which was brokered by the United States and began on March 25.
That agreement included a mutual suspension of attacks on maritime targets and energy infrastructure.
In an April 6 address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of backtracking on its commitments, particularly regarding its continued use of Black Sea naval assets to launch missile strikes on Ukrainian territory.
“Russia has refused to uphold an unconditional ceasefire at sea,” Zelenskyy said.
The upcoming negotiations build on a series of indirect diplomatic contacts between Kyiv and Moscow.
In late March, both parties held separate meetings with U.S. officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amid efforts to establish communication channels and prevent further escalation in the region.
Though those discussions reportedly did not result in direct Ukraine–Russia talks, they laid the groundwork for continued dialogue through intermediaries.
Now, the Ankara meeting marks the first reported multilateral setting focused specifically on Black Sea military coordination since the ceasefire began.