During a phone conversation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Kyiv has prepared a detailed list of urgent needs to address the fallout from the collapse and rupture of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power plant. The exchange, conveyed via Zelensky’s official Twitter account, underscored the immediate humanitarian and environmental challenges arising from the incident and the necessity of coordinated international action to prevent further damage.
In the same thread, Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian side provided Ankara with a comprehensive outline of priorities aimed at mitigating the disaster’s consequences. The president stressed that the needs cover critical areas such as emergency relief, stabilization of water and energy systems, protection of civilian livelihoods, and rapid restoration of essential services for affected communities across the region.
According to Zelensky, the discussion also highlighted the broader human and environmental spillover from the hydroelectric dam collapse. He drew attention to potential risks at the nearby Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in this context, noting that careful risk assessment and preventive measures are vital to avert further harm and ensure regional safety. The Kyiv leadership views the situation as a shared challenge requiring vigilance and international cooperation to minimize long-term hazards for both people and ecosystems.
The Ukrainian president noted that Turkey’s influence could be pivotal in several areas: facilitating conflict resolution, supporting the release or fair treatment of Ukrainian citizens detained abroad, including Crimean Tatars, and sustaining and expanding grain-related initiatives that help stabilize food supply chains for friendly nations and vulnerable communities alike. The dialogue signals a willingness from Kyiv to work with Ankara on diplomatic channels and practical steps that could ease tensions while preserving humanitarian access and regional stability.
Earlier, a Turkish leadership source indicated Erdogan’s openness to a multilateral mechanism. The proposal would involve Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations, and Turkey in a coordinated international commission tasked with investigating the Kakhovskaya incident. The suggested framework envisions transparent inquiry procedures, shared data access, and cooperative efforts to identify responsible parties and implement remedial actions that prevent a recurrence while supporting affected populations and environmental recovery efforts. This approach aims to balance accountability with constructive diplomacy at a moment of heightened regional fragility.