Turkish President Erdogan discusses matters with Ukrainian President Zelensky prior to Trump-Putin negotiations
In a significant development, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili at the presidential compound on August 15. The discussion centred around the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, bilateral ties, and regional developments.
The war between Russia and Ukraine was a primary topic of discussion. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, echoing previous statements emphasising Turkey’s backing for a peace process that includes “all parties” and aims for a "just" and "lasting peace."[1][4]
Zelensky sought the support of European nations, including Turkey, in preserving Ukraine's territorial integrity. Zelensky also made it clear that Ukraine will not make any territorial concessions to Russia.[3]
Turkey has been actively involved as a mediator in the Ukraine war, hosting multiple rounds of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia since May 2025. In Istanbul, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations held three rounds of talks, where they agreed on prisoner exchanges and discussed draft terms for ending the conflict.[2]
However, major breakthroughs remain elusive due to opposing demands—Russia insists Ukraine relinquish control of four regions plus Crimea and abandon NATO aspirations, while Ukraine rejects these conditions.[2][4]
Ankara positions itself as a key mediator, leveraging Istanbul’s symbolic and strategic location, maintaining ties with both Kyiv and Moscow while avoiding Western sanctions on Russia. It supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and has provided military aid, yet refrains from joining sanctions.[1][2][5]
Regarding peacekeeping, Turkey remains open to deploying a peacekeeping force in Ukraine as part of security guarantees should a comprehensive peace agreement be reached. However, Turkish authorities stress that a ceasefire must first be secured before any peacekeeping mission is considered, and that the mandate and contributions of participating countries need clear definition.[3][5]
Erdogan is ready to host a summit at the leaders' level to end the war. He also expressed his wish for the next rounds of talks to produce results towards a permanent peace agreement.[2]
The discussion between Erdogan and Kavelashvili also covered bilateral issues and regional developments. The recent peace declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on August 8 was also discussed.[4]
The conversation was initiated by the Ukrainian side, taking place days before the U.S. and Russian leaders are set to hold key talks on the Ukraine war in Alaska. Erdogan stressed that establishing working groups on military, political, and humanitarian aspects can contribute to the peace process.[1]
No specific progress or results from the conversation were mentioned in the statement. However, it is clear that Turkey continues to play an active and balanced role as a mediator, hosting talks, supporting diplomatic dialogue, advocating for an inclusive peace process, and expressing readiness to contribute to peacekeeping contingent on ceasefire progress. [1][2][3][4][5]
Despite these efforts, substantive progress toward ending the war remains constrained by fundamental disagreements between Ukraine and Russia.
The ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict continued to be a prime focus during Erdogan's discussions with Zelensky and Kavelashvili. Though Turkey's role as a mediator has been persistent, achieving a permanent peace agreement remains challenging due to differing demands. Meanwhile, the discussions also touched upon international politics, including Turkey's potential role in peacekeeping missions and the recent peace declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
