Turkey proposes a leaders' summit, complete with working groups, aimed at strengthening the Ukraine truce.
In a significant development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation on Tuesday, discussing the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The discussion marked a continuation of Turkey's active role as a mediator in the conflict, a role it has been playing since facilitating several rounds of peace talks in Istanbul in 2025. These talks have included the latest on July 23, which resulted in agreements such as prisoner exchanges and proposals for working groups to address political, military, and humanitarian issues.
During the conversation, Zelenskyy appreciated Turkey's role as a mediator, noting that any negotiations without Ukraine will not bring sustainable peace. Erdogan, in turn, reaffirmed Ankara's continued support for "Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Erdogan expressed hope that "meaningful results on the cease-fire" would be achieved during upcoming negotiation rounds. He also conveyed Turkey's readiness to organize a summit of the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and Turkey to support the peace process.
Zelenskyy described the progress made so far as "valuable." He noted that an imitated rather than genuine peace will not hold for long and will only encourage Russia to seize even more territory.
Turkey's unique geopolitical stance as a NATO member maintaining balanced relations with both Kyiv and Moscow allows it to act as a neutral and credible mediator in the conflict. This is evident in its ability to balance diplomacy through bilateral relationships and maintain communication channels with both sides.
The National Security Council of Turkey has also publicly affirmed its commitment to contributing to the peace process while criticizing sanctions that it sees as obstructing resolution efforts. Russia and Ukraine have both acknowledged and shown some appreciation for Turkey’s mediation role. The Kremlin spokesperson confirmed that Türkiye is favored by both sides and expressed gratitude for Ankara's facilitation, while insisting on advancing talks through proposed working groups.
Future plans include the implementation of agreements from prior negotiation rounds, with expectations for a fourth round of peace talks and discussions about a leaders’ summit to further the diplomatic process. Erdogan has framed Istanbul and Türkiye as the venue for continuing and concluding these negotiations, signaling Ankara’s ambition to be a key permanent player in peace efforts in this conflict.
Turkey's mediation is supported by its dual economic ties: energy imports from Russia and military support to Ukraine, such as the Bayraktar drones. Both Moscow and Kyiv recognize Turkey’s role, with Russia publicly appreciating Ankara’s facilitation.
In conclusion, Turkey's active mediation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is a testament to its unique geopolitical position and its commitment to peace. The conversation between Zelenskyy and Erdogan was described as friendly and substantive, indicating a positive outlook for future negotiations. Zelenskyy was ready for any format of meeting aimed at stopping the killings and ending the war.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his hope that meaningful results on the cease-fire will be achieved during upcoming negotiation rounds with Russia and Ukraine, who have both acknowledged and shown some appreciation for Turkey’s mediation role.
- In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey's active role as a mediator is significant, particularly since it has facilitated several rounds of peace talks in Istanbul, including the latest talks on July 23.
- Ankara's continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity was reaffirmed by Erdogan during his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while Zelenskyy appreciated Turkey’s role as a mediator.
- Turkey's unique geopolitical stance as a NATO member maintaining balanced relations with both Russia and Ukraine allows it to act as a neutral and credible mediator in the conflict, a role that is evident in its ability to balance diplomacy through bilateral relationships and maintain communication channels with both sides.
