Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday called on Russia and Ukraine to return to talks in İstanbul, saying renewed negotiations were needed as fighting continues and civilian deaths rise.
Erdoğan made the comments at a news conference in Ankara after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said Turkey wanted to revive a negotiation format that brought Russian and Ukrainian delegations to İstanbul for three rounds of talks between May and July.
“We underlined the need to continue the Istanbul process with a practical approach that aims for results,” Erdoğan said. “We expect all partners who want the bloodshed to end to support this process.”
Turkey has maintained working relations with both countries since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has positioned itself as a mediator. The earlier talks in İstanbul produced prisoner exchanges and the return of bodies of soldiers, but no agreement on a ceasefire.
Erdoğan said Russia’s recent strikes on Ukrainian cities, including attacks on energy sites, showed the need for new talks in Turkey’s largest city.
“The growing attacks on energy infrastructure and the loss of life create destruction for both sides,” he said. “We believe that restarting the Istanbul process with a broader framework that can address urgent issues will be useful.”
Erdoğan also said he was open to hearing proposals from Moscow that could lead to a ceasefire or a wider settlement.
“In this context, we see value in the involvement of the United States,” he said.
Zelensky arrived in Ankara after Russian strikes killed at least 25 people in western Ukraine, adding urgency to his push for new diplomatic efforts.
© Agence France-Presse