In Putin meeting, Erdogan offers Türkiye as host for Ukraine peace talks

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated Türkiye's readiness to act as a diplomatic host for peace talks seeking to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The offer was conveyed during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Advocating for incremental progress

According to a readout from the Turkish Communications Directorate, Erdogan emphasized the value of efforts to secure a "just and lasting peace." He proposed that tangible progress could be made by initially focusing on areas offering mutual practical benefits. Specifically, he suggested that "implementing a limited ceasefire, primarily targeting energy facilities and ports, could be beneficial," framing it as a confidence-building measure.

Türkiye's open invitation for dialogue

The Turkish president stated that Ankara is closely monitoring ongoing negotiation processes and declared Türkiye's readiness to host talks "in all formats" within the framework of ending the conflict. This reaffirms Türkiye's consistent role as a mediator with channels to both sides, having previously hosted landmark grain deal negotiations and prisoner exchanges.

Broader regional discussions

The leaders' dialogue extended beyond Ukraine, covering other pressing regional issues including the situations in Palestine and Syria, as well as peace processes in the South Caucasus. The meeting underscored Türkiye's active diplomatic engagement across multiple conflict zones, positioning itself as a key interlocutor.