According to a Reuters report, President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has expressed readiness to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia in order to bring an end to the ongoing war. This statement came after Erdogan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Istanbul. The two leaders engaged in discussions that included the war between Ukraine and Russia, security in the Black Sea, the defunct grain deal, and cooperation in the defence industry.
As a member of NATO, Turkey supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity while also maintaining friendly relations with Russia. Erdogan highlighted the importance of working towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He mentioned that Turkey is prepared to host a peace summit involving Russia, reiterating Ankara’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Although Turkey had previously hosted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, Erdogan expressed frustration over the lack of progress in diplomatic efforts. Zelenskiy emphasized that Russia would not be invited to the first peace summit scheduled to take place in Switzerland in the coming months. He stated that Russia’s involvement would be considered after a roadmap for peace had been agreed upon.
Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing that this should not be interpreted as a recognition of Russia’s occupation. Turkey has provided military support to Ukraine, including armed drones and joint production agreements, but opposes Western sanctions on Russia.
During his visit to Turkey, Zelenskiy inspected construction work on Ukrainian navy corvettes at a shipyard near Istanbul. He mentioned discussions with Erdogan regarding joint defence projects and the potential production of arms and ammunition. The leaders also addressed the issue of the Black Sea grain deal, aimed at facilitating safe grain exports from Ukrainian ports.
Amidst its efforts to balance relations with Ukraine and Russia, Turkey continues to deepen energy cooperation with Russia while maintaining defence industry ties with Ukraine. There are plans for Turkey to participate in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. However, recent reports suggest that Turkish-Russian trade has been affected by U.S. threats of sanctions on financial firms conducting business with Russia.
Overall, the discussions between Erdogan and Zelenskiy underscore the complex dynamics at play in the region and the efforts being made to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Turkey’s role as a mediator in hosting a potential peace summit reflects its commitment to regional stability and diplomacy.
(Reporting by Can Sezer in Istanbul, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay in Ankara, Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk, and Olena Hamarsh in Kyiv; Writing by Daren Butler and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Ece Toksabay, Hugh Lawson and Ros Russell)
