Erdoğan voices hope for Ukraine peace after meeting with Putin
Photo: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Getty Images)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the war between Ukraine and Russia may be approaching its end after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports Reuters.
Erdoğan said the leaders discussed peace efforts aimed at ending hostilities and emphasized that Türkiye is ready to continue playing an active role in the peace process.
"After this meeting with Putin, we hope to have the opportunity to discuss the peace plan with US President Trump as well. Peace is not far away; we see that," Erdogan told reporters on his return from Turkmenistan.
The Turkish president also proposed a limited ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and seaports, underlining the strategic importance of maritime security.
He stressed that "the Black Sea should not be seen as a battleground," as this harms both Ukraine and Russia, and added that the security of sea routes in the region is critically important for all parties.
The statements come amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports, with Ukrainian officials and shipowners reporting that at least three Turkish vessels, including a food cargo ship, were damaged in the strikes. The attacks followed Moscow's threats to effectively block Ukraine's access to the sea.
Türkiye has prior experience mediating Black Sea and grain agreements, and its current diplomatic activity may signal an effort to return the parties to negotiations amid escalating tensions and international pressure.
On December 12, the presidents of Türkiye and Russia met in Ashgabat on the sidelines of the International Forum on Peace and Trust. According to the Kremlin, Putin and Erdoğan discussed the EU's stance on Russian assets, which Moscow described as a "grand deception," as well as the situation in Ukraine.
After the meeting, Putin held separate talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Earlier, the leaders of Türkiye and Russia had already spoken by phone to discuss possible ways to end the war in Ukraine, although the reopening of the grain corridor was not publicly confirmed.
