Erdogan told reporters on the plane returning from China, where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit: “During a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, we discussed possible measures to end the war between Ukraine and Russia with a just peace, focusing particularly on issues of cooperation in the energy sector.” He added, “Turkey has believed from the start that the war between Ukraine and Russia can be ended through negotiations.” He noted that he maintains regular contact with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and with Volodymyr Zelensky regarding Ukraine and does not intend to abandon dialogue.
He said, “My dear Mr. (Vladimir) Putin, Mr. Zelensky, and European leaders, we are in constant communication. The Turkish Foreign Minister and the Head of Intelligence conduct the necessary negotiations with their counterparts. These negotiations consistently speed up the process. We are a country that has developed and strengthened the foundations of dialogue thanks to direct negotiations in Istanbul.” He confirmed that Turkey has achieved tangible results in the issues of the ‘grain corridor’ and prisoner exchanges.
He stated, “In fact, this is the correct approach, and we do not intend to abandon it. We are taking steps to continue this process and will keep doing so. In every meeting with Mr. Putin, I always raise the issues of the grain corridor and prisoner exchanges. I will continue to do so. We hope it will bear fruit. A fair and lasting peace will be achieved by strengthening the negotiation platform without excluding any party.”
He continued, “Since the beginning of the war, Turkey has become a model to follow, as it managed to negotiate with both sides and gain their trust. If we all prioritize negotiations over conflict and peace over war, we will be able to fully benefit from the opportunity presented to us.” He added, “We analyzed the outcomes that Mr. (Vladimir) Putin brought from the recent summit in Alaska and his views on these negotiations. The meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump was of great importance. We reviewed Mr. Putin’s opinion on these issues… We also had the opportunity to reassess the results of the Alaska summit.”
