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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Friday that he plans to contact both Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump this week to explore bringing the two leaders together for talks in Istanbul.
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers, Erdogan said he would pursue discussions with both leaders "to see if we can bring these leaders together in Istanbul."
The announcement represents Türkiye's continued efforts to position itself as a diplomatic mediator in international conflicts, particularly between Russia and Ukraine, while now extending those efforts to include direct engagement with the new U.S. administration.
The proposal comes as Türkiye continues its established role as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Erdogan revealed detailed information about the latest round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, which took place at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, marking the third time the city has hosted such talks.
"The last meeting was at Ciragan. My Foreign Minister conducted the meeting at Ciragan on my behalf, and while my Foreign Minister was conducting those discussions, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations also came together and held their own talks," Erdogan explained.
The Turkish president described a comprehensive diplomatic process that involved multiple stages of engagement. Prior to the Istanbul talks, the Ukrainian delegation traveled to Ankara for preliminary discussions with Turkish officials, where Erdogan personally received them. He also conducted separate discussions with Putin during this period, actively seeking the Russian leader's support for the ongoing mediation efforts.
Erdogan's comments revealed the intricate diplomatic choreography involved in maintaining dialogue between the warring parties, with Türkiye serving as both host and active facilitator in the negotiations.
Addressing ongoing wildfire emergencies across the country, Erdogan provided specific details about the scale of response efforts currently underway. Active blazes continue to burn in Karabuk, Safranbolu, Antalya, Gazipsa, and Usak, Sivasli provinces, requiring massive resource deployment.
"Currently, 27 aircraft are active, and firefighting operations continue with 105 helicopters. Six thousand ground vehicles and 25,000 personnel are sustaining this fight," Erdogan stated, outlining the comprehensive nature of the response.
The president addressed the tragic human cost of the firefighting efforts, particularly referencing the Eskisehir wildfire that claimed 10 lives. The casualties included five forestry workers and five volunteers from the AKUT search and rescue organization. Erdogan confirmed that nine of the victims have been buried, with the final victim scheduled to be laid to rest in Konya on Friday.
"We really faced a very, very big disaster, and in this disaster, all our firefighter heroes showed every kind of heroism they could. But of course, these heroes who remained within this circle of fire could not escape from there, and as a result, our martyrs were sent to eternity. May God be our helper," Erdogan said, expressing both grief and admiration for the fallen firefighters.
Regarding the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) currently taking place in Istanbul, Erdogan emphasized Türkiye's evolving position in the global defense sector and the tangible results being achieved.
"Defense industry IDEF has reached a distance that presents a different place in the world. We have seriously started to receive orders, and these orders continue with full force," he said, indicating strong international interest in Turkish defense products.
Erdogan highlighted the strategic importance of establishing a strong position in the defense industry, noting the competitive nature of the global market. "In the defense industry, you need to position yourself in a very different place above all else. If you cannot capture that place in the defense industry, you cannot successfully sustain this struggle in the world," he explained.
The president provided specific figures demonstrating Türkiye's growth in the sector, revealing that the country's defense industry potential has expanded from $20 billion when his government took office to $80 billion currently. He expressed confidence that this growth trajectory would continue, stating that Türkiye would "become even stronger, God willing."
Erdogan praised the dedication of those working in the defense industry, saying, "All our friends in the defense industry are making every kind of sacrifice. They are putting forth all their efforts."
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