ISTANBUL (Azat TV) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered Istanbul as a potential venue for future negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, an offer that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accepted. The confirmation came following talks between the two leaders in Istanbul on Saturday, according to the Ukrainian Presidential Office.
Türkiye’s Diplomatic Initiative
President Erdogan confirmed Türkiye’s preparedness to host the next round of talks involving the three nations during his meeting with President Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader expressed his readiness to attend, stating, “Erdogan proposes holding peace talks in Istanbul — we are ready to come. Ready for a meeting at the level of leaders in any format,” Zelenskyy told reporters after their discussion.
Enhanced Security Cooperation
Beyond the diplomatic overtures, the presidents also addressed concrete steps in security cooperation. President Zelenskyy indicated on social media that an agreement has been reached, focusing on Ukraine’s potential contributions to Türkiye, including “expertise, technologies, experience.” Both sides have committed to finalizing the details of this security partnership in the coming days, signaling a deepening of bilateral ties beyond the scope of the proposed international negotiations.
The offer to host trilateral talks underscores Türkiye’s continued role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict, leveraging its strategic position and diplomatic relationships to facilitate dialogue between key international players.