Turkey reaffirms readiness to mediate Russia-Ukraine peace
The presidents of Turkey and Russia had a phone conversation. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasised that he is ready to provide all kinds of support, including organising peace negotiations with Ukraine, to ensure an honourable and lasting peace, as stated in an official communiqué.
The conversation between the leaders of Turkey and Russia once again touched upon, among other things, the situation related to the war in Ukraine.
Erdoğan stressed how important Turkish-Russian cooperation is. He added that he is ready to organise negotiation talks.
"Türkiye, closely following the process initiated to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, stands ready to provide all kinds of support, including hosting the peace negotiations, to secure an honorable and lasting peace," reads the communiqué following the conversation.
Turkey proposes organising negotiations, not for the first time
Let us recall that this is not the first time Turkey has declared its readiness to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war. As recently as February, Volodymyr Zelensky met with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
At a joint press conference, Zelensky emphasised that "for the war to end in a lasting and stable way, no negligence can be allowed." This is only possible when negotiations lead to a fair, just peace. And they will be conducted with the participation of everyone, Zelensky said, pointing to Ukraine, the USA, and all of Europe. He stressed that Turkey is an integral part of Europe.
In March, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, also emphasised that Turkey is "ready to provide a venue for holding peace talks" between Ukraine and Russia and "provide all other necessary assistance." "Our region has already had enough tears and war," he declared.
Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, also declared that Turkey is ready to send its peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, but only with the consent of both sides of the conflict. "Theoretically speaking, if the parties agree to establish peacekeeping forces later, we can engage," Fidan emphasised in "Hurriyet Daily News". He noted that Turkey does not want to be part of a forced initiative by one party but seeks an agreed solution.
