Erdogan Hints at New Move in Russia-Ukraine War

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed his desire to speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss efforts aimed at closing the chapter on the war in Ukraine, following talks held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.
Speaking to journalists on his return flight from South Korea, the Turkish president said that the foreign minister and other relevant officials are holding talks with both the Russian and Ukrainian sides regarding a potential meeting between them in Turkey.

Erdogan stated that his country seeks to open the path to peace through diplomacy and negotiations, emphasizing the importance of taking diplomatic steps to end the war.

He added that he discussed the matter in detail with his Ukrainian counterpart during his visit to Turkey on Saturday, noting that Ankara intends to communicate with the Russian side, through contacts made by the Turkish foreign minister and relevant officials, to create conditions for talks with Putin.

While Erdogan did not announce an agreement to hold a trilateral summit, he pointed to Turkish moves to consult with Moscow and Kyiv and push the diplomatic track.

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, answering a question about the possibility of a call between Erdogan and Putin, said there are no specific plans in this regard at present, but indicated that the call could be arranged shortly if necessary.