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"Türkiye will be an ideal host for potential talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S."

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

18.02.2025

Holding a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, President Erdoğan said: "Given the active diplomacy we have been pursuing for the past three years, our country will be an ideal host for potential talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. in the upcoming period."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex.

"I once again would like to welcome, in your presence, my valuable friend Mr. Zelenskyy, his esteemed wife, and his delegation. Before delivering my remarks, I extend my condolences to the people of Ukraine for those who lost their lives in the war, which will enter its fourth year in a few days," President Erdoğan said.

"IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE HAD DIRECT ENGAGEMENTS WITH BOTH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AT ALL LEVELS"

President Erdoğan stated: "Mr. Zelenskyy's visit is taking place at a time when major changes are expected as regards the basic dynamics of the war in Ukraine. With the understanding that war has no winners and peace no losers, we have worked intensively for the establishment of a negotiated peace between the parties since the first day of the war. Accordingly, we hosted direct negotiations between the two countries in Istanbul in March 2022. We implemented the Black Sea grain corridor as a result of our talks with the parties. In the last three years, we have had direct engagements with both Russia and Ukraine at all levels. In all these efforts, we have acted sincerely to be a reliable partner for both sides, and have obtained concrete results."

"At the current stage, there is a diplomatic initiative launched by Mr. Trump for the immediate termination of the war through negotiations," President Erdoğan pointed out. "This approach overlaps with the policy Türkiye has been pursuing for the last three years. Indeed, Istanbul negotiations stand out as an important point of reference in that they were the platform where the parties came closest to reaching an agreement. Given the active diplomacy we have been pursuing for the past three years, our country will be an ideal host for potential talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. in the upcoming period."

"WE WILL PROVIDE ALL KINDS OF SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS RESULTS IN A LASTING PEACE"

President Erdoğan said: "During my meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, I expressed Türkiye's strong support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. Also, I underlined that we will provide all kinds of support to ensure that the negotiation process results in a lasting peace. This war, which has caused the deaths of many innocents and enormous destruction, must end now. I noted that our country will continue its efforts for the promulgation of regulations aimed at commercial maritime security in the Black Sea. We believe that such a regulation in the Black Sea would serve as a confidence building measure on the path to negotiations."

Noting that topics concerning the relations between Türkiye and Ukraine were addressed during today's meeting between the two leaders, President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: "We discussed potential steps to further strengthen our trade relations in the period ahead. Despite the hardships caused by the war, we want to walk with determination towards our $10 billion target in bilateral trade. I expressed our companies' willingness to support Ukraine in redressing the devastation caused by the war and rebuilding the country. I am confident that with the restoration of peace in Ukraine, our relations will upgrade to a higher level befitting our strategic partnership in the period ahead."

"Before ending my remarks, I would like to express my appreciation for the courageous steps my valuable friend Zelenskyy has taken regarding the rights of our Crimean Tatar kin, who are striving for Ukraine's territorial integrity, and my hope for further steps," President Erdoğan added.

"UKRAINE'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SINE QUA NON FOR TÜRKİYE"

Answering reporters' questions after the press conference, President Erdoğan stated: "Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty is of crucial important to us. We have underscored Türkiye's respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty everywhere, and have brought up this issue at all international meetings. Ukraine's territorial integrity will continue to be a sine qua non for us. War has no losers, so we hope that peace can be established as soon as possible. My valuable friend also states that he favors peace. I hope that we can make progress towards peace in the talks my foreign minister holds with his counterparts and I hold with Mr. Putin, and can take steps accordingly."

Stressing that in order for a just peace to be established, countries known to be powerful need to take a stance in favor of peace, President Erdoğan said: "As I have just stated, peace has no losers. The whole world is now waiting for peace to be achieved in the Russia-Ukraine war. That is so because there are so many prisoners, with hundreds of thousands of others killed. An end to these killings is desired. As their closest neighbor, we want to take steps towards an immediate peace in cooperation with our partners. That is why we wanted to implement the grain corridor in the first place. The grain corridor actually yielded results but we couldn't secure its continuation. 30 thousand tons of grain were delivered through our mediation. We want this to continue in the upcoming period."

President Erdoğan added: "By the way, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Zelenskyy for sending us the grain that we process into flour in our mills and then transfer to Syria. This has made the Syrian administration very happy and pleased. I thank them in your presence on behalf of the Syrian people. It is the fulfillment of both a moral and humanitarian duty that Syrin has obtained such an assistance from Ukraine through our mediation at such a difficult time. I thank them very much. May they be well and blessed."