Erdogan proposes peace talks with Russia in effort to end Ukraine war

During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his country's readiness to host a peace summit involving Russia.

expressed his pleasure at welcoming President Zelenskyy and his delegation to Istanbul, extending his wishes for a speedy recovery to both Ukraine and Greece following a recent missile attack near a site visited by Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Erdogan also offered condolences for Ukrainian citizens who lost their lives during the ongoing conflict.

Detailing the discussions held during their meeting, Erdogan emphasized Türkiye's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. He noted the increasing negative repercussions of the conflict on both regional and global scales, underscoring the lack of significant diplomatic progress since the peace negotiations initiated in Istanbul in March 2022.

Erdogan reiterated Türkiye's commitment to contributing to the termination of the war through negotiations and expressed readiness to host a peace summit that would include Russia. The offer comes as part of Türkiye's ongoing efforts to facilitate dialogue and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. (ILKHA)