Türkiye ready to back Russia-Ukraine peace talks at every step: President Erdogan

By Esra Tekin and Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday expressed Türkiye's readiness to give necessary support at every stage of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

In a phone call, President Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed bilateral ties, as well as regional and global issues, said Türkiye's presidency on X.

"During the call, President Erdogan emphasized the significance of the will to resume direct talks between Russia and Ukraine and said that Türkiye stands ready to provide the necessary support at every stage of the process," it added.

Erdogan said that Ankara would be pleased to host Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Türkiye for peace negotiations.

Emphasizing that a comprehensive ceasefire would create the necessary conditions for the start of peace negotiations, Erdogan urged the warring parties not to miss the "window of opportunity."

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Erdogan for his “support and readiness to facilitate diplomacy at the highest level,” noting that the meeting in Türkiye could be a significant step toward ending the war.

“It is also essential that our partners ensure monitoring of the ceasefire,” he said, reiterating Kyiv’s readiness for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“President Erdogan and I agreed to continue our joint efforts to ensure peace,” Zelenskyy concluded.