Newsletters
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told French President Emmanuel Macron that Türkiye is ready to host all kinds of efforts toward peace talks between Ukraine and Russia during a phone call initiated by France, the Turkish Presidency announced on Thursday.
The conversation covered bilateral relations, the Russia-Ukraine peace process, the situation in Gaza, and various regional and global developments, according to a statement from the Presidential Communications Directorate.
During the conversation, President Erdogan also expressed Türkiye's commitment to enhancing cooperation with France, particularly in defense industry sectors.
"Türkiye attaches importance to developing cooperation with France and will continue to take steps to advance relations in many areas, especially in the defense industry," Erdogan said.
The two leaders agreed to discuss details of topics addressed during the U.N. Summit in New York, indicating ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two NATO allies.
Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye continues its efforts to end the Ukraine-Russia war with a just peace and is closely following contacts in Alaska and Washington.
"Türkiye is ready to host all kinds of efforts for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia," Erdogan told Macron during the call.
The Turkish president's offer comes as international diplomatic efforts intensify to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Erdogan also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, telling Macron that Türkiye is working to achieve a ceasefire in the region.
"Israel's recklessness, which is accelerating its occupation plan for Gaza, must be reined in," Erdogan stated, emphasizing the necessity of curbing Israeli actions in the Palestinian territory.
The Turkish president characterized the situation in Gaza as "a great humanitarian disaster" requiring immediate international attention and intervention.
The phone call was initiated at France's request, highlighting Paris's active diplomatic engagement on multiple international crises.
The conversation reflects both countries' roles in seeking diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts.
The discussion between Erdogan and Macron underscores Türkiye's positioning as a potential mediator in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, leveraging its unique diplomatic relationships with both Moscow and Kyiv.
Türkiye has previously hosted negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations and maintains diplomatic channels with both countries.
The country's geographic position, bridging Europe and Asia, combined with its NATO membership and relationships with Russia, positions it as a potential venue for peace negotiations.
3 min read
