Erdogan Offers to Mediate Possible Meeting Between Russian and Ukrainian Leaders
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that his country is actively working to resume negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and is ready to facilitate a potential meeting between the two leaders. He made these remarks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Ankara.
According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, reported by Al Jazeera on Thursday, Erdogan emphasized Ankara’s continued efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war through peaceful means. He stated that Turkey is striving to reactivate diplomatic talks, including at the leadership level.
During the meeting, Erdogan also described maintaining transatlantic relations as “essential” and stressed that NATO’s European members must take greater responsibility for the collective security of the alliance.
In a separate phone call with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Erdogan outlined Ankara’s initiatives to achieve sustainable peace in Ukraine through negotiations. According to the Turkish presidency, he warned that ongoing conflicts place increasing pressure on Europe and cautioned that without a peace-oriented approach from global powers, the situation could become more complicated.
The Turkish presidency added that Erdogan reiterated his country’s efforts to reduce tensions in the Ukraine war as well as issues related to Iran through diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced that Kyiv has asked Turkey, as a NATO member, to host a possible summit between its leaders and Russia. He added that similar requests have been made to other capitals.
On the other side, Russian state media quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying that Vladimir Putin will only agree to meet within the framework of finalizing agreements related to the war. Peskov said Putin is ready to hold talks “at any time,” but the purpose and possible outcome of such a meeting will be decisive in determining whether it takes place.
