By Anadolu Agency
May 31, 2025 4:04 pmISTANBUL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed with Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the potential organization of a four-way summit involving the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and the US.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy on Friday described their exchange as a “good and very substantive conversation,” during which he thanked Türkiye for its “principled stance in supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of Ukraine.
He noted that the prisoner exchange achieved during peace talks in Istanbul was “important,” but emphasized that further progress requires a ceasefire. “The killings must stop,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine and Türkiye were evaluating the conditions under which Kyiv would agree to a second round of talks in Istanbul. “We share the view that this meeting cannot and should not be empty,” he said.
They also discussed Türkiye’s participation in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit.
“I’m grateful for the steps and ideas that can bring the necessary results,” Zelenskyy said.
On Friday, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said that Erdogan and Zelenskyy spoke over the phone.
The Turkish president told his Ukrainian counterpart that holding talks at the leadership level between Ukraine and Russia after negotiations between delegations will benefit the peace process, a directorate statement said.
Erdogan added that Türkiye would continue its efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace between Kyiv and Moscow.
The first round of talks hosted by Türkiye in May led to a large-scale prisoner swap, but no ceasefire agreement. Russia and Ukraine are expected to send delegations to Istanbul again for further negotiations.
We use cookies on our website to give you a better experience, improve performance, and for analytics. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy By clicking “Accept” you agree to our use of cookies.
Read More