In recent weeks, Ukraine and Russia have increasingly traded blows on vessels in the Black Sea, directly impacting foreign-flagged ships, including those owned and operated in Turkey. Ukrainian attacks have also targeted vessels as far south in the Black Sea as around 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the coast of northern Turkey. "The conflict has spread across the whole Black Sea," Fidan added. Attempts at brokering a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea have thus far been unsuccessful. In March 2025, during early rounds of peace negotiations, the United States claimed it had secured a ceasefire in the Black Sea.