Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has positioned Turkey as an "ideal host" for future peace talks on Ukraine, stating that Donald Trump’s diplomatic approach aligns with Ankara’s stance.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine © X
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has positioned Turkey as an "ideal host" for future peace talks on Ukraine, stating that Donald Trump’s diplomatic approach aligns with Ankara’s stance.
During a joint press conference in Ankara, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for "fair negotiations", involving Turkey, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, alongside the United States.
"A lasting peace is only possible when negotiations are fair and when Ukraine, America, and all of Europe are represented at the table," Zelensky insisted.
Zelensky sharply criticized the recent U.S.-Russia meeting in Riyadh, calling it a discussion on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine "without Ukraine."
In response, he announced the postponement of his planned visit to Saudi Arabia, originally scheduled for Wednesday, now moved to March 10 in agreement with Saudi authorities.
Erdogan, who has hosted two rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks in 2022, reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to acting as a mediator.
"Turkey will be an ideal host for the likely negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in the near future," Erdogan declared.
He further noted that Trump has taken a "diplomatic initiative" to end the war quickly through negotiation, which he claimed "coincides with Turkey’s foreign policy over the past three years."
Despite being a NATO member, Turkey has maintained relations with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war.
It supplies combat drones and warships to Ukraine, strengthening Kyiv’s defense capabilities. However, it has refrained from joining Western sanctions against Russia, preserving economic and political ties with Moscow.
Zelensky’s visit to Ankara, which included a three-hour meeting with Erdogan at the presidential palace, coincided with the high-level U.S.-Russia diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia.
"We were not informed in advance about these negotiations," Zelensky lamented on Monday.
With Ankara navigating a delicate balance between Russia and the West, Erdogan’s offer to host future peace talks highlights Turkey’s strategic ambition to mediate the conflict while securing its regional influence.
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