Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s long-standing support for dialogue and diplomatic solutions in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. He underscored that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are aware of Turkey’s principled stance.
“I want to call upon the parties once again. In a fair peace, there are no losers. We are ready to host the parties again in Turkey for negotiations,” Erdogan stated. He pointed out that the war has evolved into a draining confrontation with significant casualties, and the world is looking for opportunities for peace.
Erdogan emphasized that Ankara continues to support diplomatic efforts and maintains communication with both Kyiv and Moscow. He also expressed hope for renewed negotiations to bring an end to the conflict.
Context
- Turkey has long offered to serve as a venue for the next round of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
- The first negotiations to end the Ukraine-Russia war occurred between February and March 2022, comprising four face-to-face rounds, the last of which took place in Turkey on March 29. Delegations also met via video, but the negotiation process stalled due to a lack of concrete proposals from the Russian side, as explained by the Office of the President of Ukraine.
- In February 2025, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Votkoff stated that the Istanbul agreements could serve as a guideline for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. However, former Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg emphasized that while the Istanbul agreements could be a starting point, they cannot form the basis for peace in Ukraine.
