Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to hold a telephone call today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Ankara steps up efforts to revive the peace process in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The planned call was announced by Erdogan himself during the G20 summit, where he said the two leaders would discuss prospects for restarting negotiations.
Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said that in his bilateral meetings on the margins of the summit, participants had examined options for achieving a ceasefire and for launching initiatives that could lead to a “just and sustainable peace”. He added that Turkey “will do whatever is possible on the path to peace”.
Talks with Zelensky ahead of G20
Ahead of the G20, Erdogan hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara. According to Turkish sources, the two sides discussed proposals that could accelerate a possible ceasefire, the involvement of the United States in any peace process and areas of cooperation in the defence industry.
In comments after the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Turkey for its “principled stance since the start of the war” and stressed that Kyiv is seeking “immediate peace and security guarantees”.
Italy sees ‘strategic’ role for Turkey
On the sidelines of the G20, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described US work on a 28-point peace plan as a “significant development” and said Turkey is in a position to play a “strategic” role.
According to Meloni, Erdogan is approaching the proposal “in a constructive way” and is among those who support the idea of a temporary ceasefire.
Today’s Erdogan–Putin phone call is expected to focus on the possibility of restarting negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv and on how the American peace initiative is being assessed by both sides.
Source: CNA