Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking before the start of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, expressed hope that they would facilitate a personal meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.
“The progress made in these talks will allow the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to negotiate in person,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by Daily Sabah.
He noted that Turkey is also ready to host such talks between the two leaders on its territory.
Erdogan indicated that Turkey is “deeply concerned” about the situation around Ukraine and calls for a ceasefire.
“The negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine has raised hopes for peace. Ensuring a ceasefire as soon as possible would be beneficial to all parties,” the Turkish president said.
“We hope that the meetings [in Istanbul] will benefit both sides and the region,” he said.
“I think it is possible to come to an agreement that will suit both sides and the world community,” he stressed. Erdogan noted that a “permanent, fair, practical solution is required.”
Erdogan also stressed that Turkey is ready to perform mediation functions for as long as necessary. “We are ready to help the peace process as much as you need,” he said, addressing the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.
Negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations began in Istanbul on Tuesday morning, they are taking place in the Dolmabahce Palace.
As the President’s Office told Interfax-Ukraine, the Ukrainian delegation included leader of the Servant of the People faction in the parliament David Arakhamia, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, MPs Andriy Kostin and Rustem Umerov, adviser to the head of the President’s Office Mykhailo Podoliak, deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mykola Tochytsky, and Deputy Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
Turkey continues to maintain contacts with both Ukraine and Russia, and the primary task of its diplomacy is to achieve a settlement of the situation, the Anadolu agency quoted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.
“We maintain diplomatic contacts with both sides, discuss all proposals and support all initiatives aimed at establishing peace,” he said at a press conference following the NATO summit in Brussels.
Erdogan noted that Turkey maintains special relations with both countries.
“For this reason, the first task of Turkish diplomacy is to stop hostilities. Peace in Ukraine must be ensured according to a formula that will suit the two countries and the world community. It must be a stable and strong peace,” the Turkish President added.
President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the invitation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, has arrived in Kyiv to attend the tenth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council.
“We are in Kyiv at the invitation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to attend the tenth meeting of the High Level Strategic Council. I hope that the meetings will lead to favorable results for both the countries and the region,” Erdoğan said on Twitter on Thursday.
He said that in recent years, Turkey has made significant progress in relations with Ukraine in trade, investment, tourism and defense industry.
“We are striving to achieve our goal of $10 billion in trade volume. We will soon achieve this goal due to the Free Trade Agreement that we will sign,” the Turkish president said.
According to him, Turkey is closely following “the challenges faced by Ukraine, and tensions in the region.” Thus, he called on all sides to dialogue to maintain peace in the region.
“It is clear that the conflict must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law. Turkey is ready to contribute to maintaining peace and security in its region,” he said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Ukraine at the beginning of 2022 to hold a High-Level Strategic Council, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.
“In the Strategy [ of foreign policy], we also determined that the priority in the development of strategic partnership with Turkey will continue to be the support of political dialogue at the level of heads of state, as well as the development of Quadriga. At the beginning of the year, Turkish President Erdoğan will visit Ukraine for holding the High-Level Strategic Council, and this will be the next step in the development of our relations,” Kuleba said at the event “Diplomacy 2022: Priorities of the Foreign Policy Strategy” in Kyiv on Tuesday.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will pay a working visit to the Republic of Turkey (Istanbul) on Friday, October 16.
During the visit, Zelensky will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“It is planned to discuss a wide range of issues of relations between Ukraine and Turkey, as well as the signing of a number of bilateral documents,” the press service said.
