According to the Polish Press Agency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated that the upcoming round of talks in Istanbul could pave the way toward ending the war.
A New Opportunity to End the War?
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking steps to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. During a phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, he expressed hope that the second round of talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul could lead to real progress in the peace process. He emphasized that it is crucial for both sides of the conflict to send strong and empowered delegations to the negotiations.
Erdogan believes that after the second round of talks, a direct meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine should follow. According to the Turkish president, such a move could inject new momentum into the negotiations and create a genuine opportunity to reach an agreement. In his conversation with Erdogan, the Ukrainian president stressed that Kyiv would not agree to further talks without substance. In his view, a ceasefire is essential before any real progress can be made. Zelensky had earlier met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, whom he thanked for Ankara’s continued commitment to peace efforts.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha suggested that Kyiv would like U.S. President Donald Trump to also take part in a future meeting between Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. This signals that Ukraine is seeking the broadest possible international backing in its pursuit of a just peace.
Istanbul Back in the Spotlight
The first round of talks in Turkey took place on May 16, but at that time Russia sent a low-level delegation, which Kyiv interpreted as a sign of a lack of serious intent. Now, Ukraine expects concrete outcomes rather than mere political gestures.
Erdogan has made it clear that he is committed to resolving the conflict. Since the beginning of the war, Turkey has sought to play a mediating role. The release of over a thousand Ukrainian prisoners has been one of Ankara’s notable achievements so far. The question remains—will this time mark a true step forward?