'Turkiye can contribute to peace talks' in Ukraine-Russia war: Erdogan
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Erdogan considers that Turkiye could be a significant contributor to peace talks, including as a host.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkiye, Tuesday, February 18, 2025. (Turkish Presidency via AP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in a phone call that Ankara is prepared to host inclusive negotiations for resolving the Ukrainian conflict, ensuring no party is excluded, Turkiye's presidential office announced on Sunday.
A statement by the President's office relayed that Erdogan considers that Turkiye could be a significant contributor to peace talks, including as a host, given that it was the only nation to bring both Ukrainian and Russian sides to the negotiating table on several occasions.
"[Turkiye] voiced the importance of launching a negotiation process that does not exclude either side of the conflict," the statement emphasized.
In addition to the Ukrainian conflict, Macron and Erdogan discussed bilateral ties, and regional and global issues.
Earlier, AFP reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to visit Turkiye on Monday, on the third anniversary of the Ukrainian war, to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan regarding the war and other topics.
Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, confirmed the information to TASS news agency, saying that "a delegation led by Lavrov will shortly be visiting Turkiye" to discuss "a wide range of issues."
Turkiye is asserting its role in ending the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, as it did in 2022 when it hosted direct negotiations between the two countries. On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to AFP, Turkish President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan insists that Turkiye would be an "ideal host" for these negotiations.
Read more: Trump wants to get rid of Zelensky, The Economist says
