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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Ankara is working tirelessly to help secure a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia and will speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (Nov. 24) to discuss the conflict and the stalled grain corridor initiative.
Erdogan announced during a press conference on the margins of the G20 leaders' summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he also held separate bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“I will ask (Mr.) Putin about this (Grain Corridor) again during our talks tomorrow,” Erdogan said. “I think it would be very beneficial if we could initiate the process.”
Ankara first arranged Russia-Ukraine talks in 2022, and later brokered the Black Sea grain deal to facilitate the export of grain and fertilizers from Ukrainian ports amid the war. Russia suspended its participation in July 2023.
Meanwhile, on the Sudan conflict, Erdogan said the Sudanese people want Ankara to play a role in resolving the issue, vowing, "Wherever there is trouble, we will be there."
"Whether in the Gulf, Sudan, or Somalia, we have been part of these efforts; from now on, we will continue rushing everywhere for peace," Erdogan added.
In his meeting with Meloni, Erdogan said reviving the Istanbul peace talks between Ukraine and Russia could open the door to broader negotiations, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
He emphasized that all diplomatic tools must be used to end the war and reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to mediating dialogue between the warring sides.
During both meetings, Erdogan highlighted the urgent need to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
He stressed that the formula for lasting peace in the Middle East lies in a two-state solution and said Türkiye is making efforts to support that outcome.
Erdogan also noted the importance of furthering cooperation between Türkiye and Italy in Libya, especially in defense industry partnerships. He said joint steps taken with Rome to advance collaboration would continue.
In his talks with Macron, Erdogan called mutual efforts to develop Türkiye–France relations “important,” the Communications Directorate said in a post on the Turkish platform X.
The leaders also discussed regional and global developments, with Erdogan again stressing Türkiye’s readiness to continue efforts to bring Ukraine and Russia back to the negotiation table.
Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said the G20 remains a vital platform for addressing international challenges.
“The G20 provides leadership to the international community in confronting both current and future global issues,” he said.
Erdogan is attending the two-day G20 summit in Johannesburg, which began Saturday, with leaders focusing on conflict resolution, climate action, and global economic stability.
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