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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek on Monday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where he is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 1.
The Turkish president is due to address the summit in an expanded format on Tuesday and hold bilateral meetings with other leaders during his visit between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, according to the Communications Directorate.
The meeting between Erdogan and Putin is expected to focus on the Russia-Ukraine war, developments in the Black Sea and economic cooperation between Türkiye and Russia.
Yury Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, confirmed that the two presidents will meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit, with the talks scheduled for after the summit’s main events on Sept. 1.
"There are many issues to discuss. Of course, these include the situation in the Black Sea and the Ukraine issue in general," Ushakov told reporters last week.
The leaders are also expected to discuss ways to further develop trade and economic cooperation between Türkiye and Russia, he added.
The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts over the Ukraine war face renewed pressure, with Kyiv signaling in recent days that talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States could resume in September.
Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, also indicated last week that Washington remains central to any effort to restart negotiations.
The Black Sea is expected to receive particular attention as attacks involving commercial shipping have intensified. Russia rejected a proposal for a ceasefire in the Black Sea earlier this month, while Türkiye has promoted a moratorium on military operations in the region.
Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks affecting commercial vessels and maritime infrastructure, increasing risks for civilian shipping and adding pressure to grain markets.
Türkiye has previously played a mediating role in the conflict, including hosting peace talks in 2022 and helping broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative with the United Nations, which enabled Ukrainian grain exports before Russia withdrew from the arrangement in 2023.
Ankara has maintained channels with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war while supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and declining to join Western sanctions against Russia.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek brings together leaders from across Eurasia for discussions on regional security, economic cooperation and major international conflicts as the group marks its 25th anniversary.
The Sept. 1 leaders’ meeting is expected to address the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran, Afghanistan’s political and economic situation, and security concerns across the region, according to the SCO Secretariat.
Economic connectivity is also high on the agenda. Member states are expected to discuss new trade and transport routes, including the 7,200-kilometer International North-South Transport Corridor linking Russia and India through Iran, as well as efforts to develop a wider network of Silk Road stations supporting freight movement across Eurasia.
The bloc is also continuing work on financial cooperation, including plans for an SCO Development Bank and discussions involving an SCO Development Fund and Investment Fund. Kyrgyzstan has made advancing these initiatives one of its priorities during its SCO chairmanship.
The summit brings together leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and leaders from other member states also attending.
Türkiye is participating in the summit as a dialogue partner.
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