Erdoğan says Ukraine must ‘definitely’ be involved in truce talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday that Ukraine must “definitely” participate in any talks for ending the conflict after Russian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia last week, Agence France-Presse reported.

“If results are to be obtained from the new process, Ukraine must definitely be included in the process and this war must be ended through mutual negotiations,” Erdoğan said after a weekly cabinet meeting.

Erdoğan, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, had talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday in Ankara.

Russian and US officials met for talks in Saudi Arabia last week, a meeting denounced by Zelensky, who warned that Ukraine would not agree to any ceasefire deal proposed by Washington and Moscow without its involvement.

Erdoğan said he backed US President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

“In principle, we welcome Mr Trump’s desire to end the war through negotiations,” he said.

“But the important thing here should not be neglected. The path to a just and lasting peace can only be opened with an equation in which all the relevant parties are represented,” he said.