US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could play a role in bringing the war in Ukraine to an end, citing Ankara's influence with Moscow and its ongoing mediation efforts.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington from Egypt, Trump was asked whether any world leaders, particularly Erdogan, might help resolve the conflict.

"Erdogan can," Trump replied. "He's respected by Russia. Ukraine, I can't tell you about, but he is respected by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

The comment came shortly after Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi convened more than 20 world leaders, including Erdogan, in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for the signing of a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Trump described his Turkish counterpart as one of the leaders he connects with easily.

"I get along with the tough ones," he said, referring to Erdoğan.

Ankara diplomacy

Since the start of the war in February 2022, Türkiye has positioned itself as a rare intermediary with open lines to both Moscow and Kiev. Ankara hosted the first high-level talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace in March 2022, where proposals for neutrality and security guarantees were discussed before negotiations collapsed.

Later that year, Türkiye, together with the United Nations, brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative, allowing Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of grain through a safe corridor despite the ongoing war. The deal helped stabilize global food prices and earned Ankara international recognition as a pragmatic mediator. Even after the agreement's collapse in 2023, Turkish officials have pressed for its revival.

In addition, Ankara has facilitated multiple prisoner exchanges, including a major swap involving Azovstal commanders in 2023, and reportedly hosted renewed Russia-Ukraine backchannel meetings in 2025 aimed at humanitarian cooperation.

Dual strategy

Analysts say Türkiye's dual approach, allegedly supplying drones and defense aid to Ukraine while maintaining trade and energy ties with Russia, has given it diplomatic credibility on both sides. Erdogan has repeatedly urged a negotiated settlement and offered to host direct peace talks, most recently during his September meeting with Putin in Sochi.

Experts view Trump's remarks as a signal that Washington may see value in leveraging Türkiye's relationships to restart dialogue. 

For Erdogan, mediation offers both strategic and economic dividends: increased regional influence, prospects for reconstruction contracts in Ukraine, and leverage within NATO as a power capable of talking to both East and West. But analysts also warn that balancing between Washington and Moscow carries risks, particularly if either side perceives Türkiye as drifting too far in the other's direction.

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