Ambassador to Türkiye: Erdoğan may secure Putin's safety if leaders meet

Here's the abridged version of the conversation, focusing on the main takeaways.

It's been less than a month since Ukraine's new ambassador to Türkiye, Nariman Dzhelyal, presented his credentials — yet he's already had to hit the ground running.

His tenure begins at a turbulent moment, with Russian–Ukrainian peace negotiations now happening in Türkiye. That alone brings a host of challenges, and the embassy's workload is heavy even without it, from trade and arms cooperation to international diplomacy.

"I don't feel any kind of 'wall' or lack of understanding that some of my colleagues say they encounter in other countries. On the contrary, public opinion in Türkiye is diverse, but there’s a noticeable pro-Ukrainian current — especially among journalists and government officials," Dzhelyal says.

At the same time, he acknowledges that Russian propaganda operates quite freely in Türkiye, and the country isn't rushing to cut ties with Moscow.

Still, all of this makes Türkiye one of the most trusted platforms for negotiations — a place where all parties are willing to talk. And that, Dzhelyal notes, opens significant opportunities for Ukraine.

Why is Türkiye acting as a mediator?

Türkiye is actively facilitating negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for two key reasons.

The first is its desire to stabilize the security situation in the Black Sea region. The war between Ukraine and Russia creates political and economic challenges, as Türkiye maintains close ties with both countries.

"Türkiye has very strong relations with Russia, especially in energy, investment, and tourism. At the same time, it firmly supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and is committed to deepening economic cooperation with us. This dual position — along with its NATO membership and the sanctions against Russia — complicates its role, but doesn’t prevent it from acting as a mediator," Dzhelyal explained.

The second reason is ambition and prestige. Mediation strengthens Türkiye’s international standing.

"Serving as a mediator is an honorable mission. Türkiye has the ambition and the capacity for this role, which allows it to gain certain advantages and boost its international credibility," the ambassador noted.

The Turkish side has provided a neutral platform and ensured security and organizational conditions for dialogue.

Meeting between Ukraine, Türkiye, US leaders - is it realistic?

The idea of a high-level summit, which President Erdoğan has been pushing for, depends entirely on Russia's willingness to participate.

"Ukraine’s president has long been ready for such a meeting, just like Türkiye's president, who keeps emphasizing the need for one. The US president has also shown openness, for example, during his visit to the Middle East. But Russia refuses," Dzhelyal stated.

According to him, Ukraine is proposing to first agree on a ceasefire and then work on a peace agreement. Russia, however, insists on technical-level negotiations before any ceasefire is even considered.

"We propose to stop the killing during the talks. They want to keep killing until expert groups finalize positions ahead of any summit. And all this is happening amid constant attacks on the front line and peaceful cities, with civilians dying and infrastructure being destroyed," he emphasized, highlighting the stark contrast between Kyiv and Moscow's approaches.

Türkiye understands Russia's delay tactics but maintains its neutrality to preserve its role as a mediator.

Is Türkiye ready to pressure Russia?

Türkiye plays the role of a facilitator, balancing its support for Ukraine with a desire to avoid direct pressure on Russia.

"Türkiye primarily protects its own interests. So we shouldn't have unrealistic expectations of it. As for its neutrality in the negotiation process, it is currently fully fulfilling its role as a facilitator," said Dzhelyal.

Its neutrality allows it to remain a platform for negotiations, unlike European countries, which Russia rejects due to their support for Ukraine. The Istanbul process continues to support the humanitarian track, particularly prisoner exchanges, which is seen as a key achievement.

"The humanitarian track allows us to free our people while keeping Russia engaged in the Istanbul process, even in the absence of major progress on the core issue — a ceasefire. It's like preheating the oven so that the dish can be baked when the time is right. The Istanbul process, in its current form, keeps the situation ready," he explained metaphorically.

Türkiye–Russia relations

Türkiye's relations with Russia are complex — a mix of cooperation and rivalry. Despite tensions, such as after Türkiye shot down a Russian jet in 2015, trade and tourism between the two nations have flourished.

"If we want Türkiye to lean more toward us, we must think not only about values and symbols — which matter to both countries — but also about building concrete, pragmatic cooperation: economic, military, security, and more. And, in principle, that’s exactly what we’re now doing," the ambassador emphasized.

Türkiye’s role on the international stage

Türkiye positions itself as a regional leader — particularly in the Turkic world — and aspires to a leadership role in the Islamic world as well.

"It understands that leadership is only possible through partnership," Dzhelyal said. Türkiye views Russia as a threat, particularly given its ambitions to dominate the Black Sea region. That's why a partnership with Ukraine aligns with Türkiye's strategic interests. "If Russia crushes Ukraine, the next targets could be the Caucasus and Türkiye," he warned.

Ukraine topic in Turkish media

The topic of the war in Ukraine is less active in Turkish media than in 2022, due to competition with other conflicts such as those in Palestine and Syria.

Russian propaganda operates comfortably in Türkiye, but Ukrainian diplomats successfully limit its influence. For example, in 2025, "Immortal Regiment" marches were allowed only on the premises of Russian diplomatic missions.

"To attract more attention to Ukraine in Türkiye, it is necessary to work on joint achievements. This could include activating business cooperation, ratifying a free trade agreement, and exchanging visits at the highest levels," said Dzhelyal.

Also, the ambassador underlines that Ukraine is currently actively working on organizing President Erdoğan’s visit to Ukraine. "President Zelenskyy personally extended the invitation, and I reiterated it during my meeting with the Turkish president. This visit requires significant effort, as there are many issues hindering its realization," he says.

Türkiye's role in the de-occupation of Crimea

Türkiye consistently supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, particularly regarding Crimea. "Erdogan has clearly stated that Crimea must remain part of Ukraine," Dzhelyal reminded.

Türkiye implements humanitarian projects, supports the Crimean Tatars, and develops military-technical cooperation with Ukraine.

“Although this assistance differs from what we receive from European partners, it is no less important,” he noted in an interview.

Crimean Tatars as a bridge between Ukraine and Türkiye

The Crimean Tatars play an important role in relations between the two countries. The diaspora in Türkiye actively supports Ukraine, organizes campaigns, and facilitates humanitarian aid.

"Their role is truly unique: as Turkish citizens, they actively advocate for Ukraine and the liberation of Crimea from occupation. However, there is still work to be done to increase their involvement," Dzhelyal believes.

For example, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev, helped supply Bayraktar drones at the start of the war, and Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov uses his connections for negotiations.

A law on multiple citizenships could strengthen this bridge, as many Crimean Tatars in Türkiye wish to obtain Ukrainian citizenship.

Return of political prisoners

Türkiye is assisting in the release of political prisoners, but the process remains unstable due to Russia's resistance.

"The reason for the lack of progress is that the Russians are deliberately delaying the release of political prisoners and civilians whose return our society is eagerly awaiting," noted Dzhelyal.

Türkiye continues to work on this, including sharing information about the status of political prisoners, but progress is complicated by its balanced stance toward Ukraine and Russia.

Impressions of Erdoğan

President Erdoğan demonstrates an understanding of the situation in Ukraine and support to the extent that it aligns with Türkiye's interests.

"I don't feel any kind of 'wall' or lack of understanding that some of my colleagues say they encounter in other countries. On the contrary, public opinion in Türkiye is diverse, but there's a noticeable pro-Ukrainian current — especially among journalists and government officials," the ambassador shared.