Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed Ankara’s readiness to mediate direct peace negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. As reported by Interfax-Ukraine, the Turkish leader made this statement during his speech at the 5th Antalya Diplomatic Forum on April 17. Erdogan emphasized that Turkey is prepared to host a summit at the leadership level, provided both conflicting parties demonstrate a genuine willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.
During his address, Erdogan expressed deep sorrow over the devastating destruction and profound loss of life caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine. He reiterated Turkey’s steadfast belief in the power of diplomacy to resolve the conflict. “We still believe that the war will end through a negotiation process in which the parties are fairly and equally represented. I would like to sincerely state here that Turkey is ready to support all steps that contribute to the continuation of direct negotiations, including a meeting at the level of leaders, if the parties desire it,” the Turkish President underscored.
The Ukrainian government swiftly responded to the proposal. Participating in the ADF-Talks public discussion at the same forum, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed Kyiv’s readiness for a leadership-level meeting. He noted that such a summit would require the participation of the Turkish President and, potentially, the leadership of the United States. Sybiha praised Turkey’s unique diplomatic experience and global influence, expressing gratitude for its systemic support, particularly the establishment of the Black Sea “Grain Corridor” at the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion.
Revealing details of Ukraine’s diplomatic strategy, Sybiha outlined a potential multilateral format. “We rely on our Turkish friends, for instance, regarding the organization of a meeting at the level of leaders. So, we are ready for this meeting. Also in Turkey. I mean a meeting between President Zelenskyy, Putin, Mr. Erdogan, and possibly Trump. We conveyed this message to our Turkish friends during our president’s recent visit,” the Foreign Minister declared.
This proposed configuration suggests that Kyiv seeks to ensure robust security guarantees and international oversight during any direct talks with Moscow. The potential inclusion of US leadership alongside Turkey fundamentally alters the negotiation dynamic, aiming to prevent manipulative tactics and secure firm commitments backed by major global powers.
The push for high-level negotiations comes amid an intensified geopolitical backdrop. Previously, during a bilateral meeting in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on new security steps to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience. Furthermore, the Turkish leader has maintained open channels of communication with the Kremlin, recently emphasizing in a phone call with the Russian leader the unacceptability of undermining efforts to achieve a just peace. As the war continues, Turkey is strategically positioning itself as the primary diplomatic hub capable of bringing all key stakeholders to the negotiating table.