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Türkiye on Thursday said it is prepared to join a proposed multinational "reassurance force" to be deployed in Ukraine following any eventual peace agreement with Russia, reaffirming its commitment to regional stability and post-conflict security operations.
Rear Adm. Zeki Akturk, spokesperson for the Turkish Defense Ministry, said during a weekly press briefing that the Turkish Armed Forces stand ready to contribute to any initiative that would ensure peace in the region.
“The Turkish Armed Forces are prepared to contribute to any initiative aimed at ensuring security and stability in our region,” Akturk said. “First and foremost, a ceasefire must be established between Russia and Ukraine. Then, a mission framework, with clearly defined objectives and each country’s contribution, must be determined.”
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week announced plans for a joint task force that would map out a multinational reassurance mission. The force would serve as a "second line of defense" to support Ukraine after a ceasefire is in place.
Macron said the force would be led by France and the United Kingdom, with close involvement from Türkiye “which plays a key role in maritime affairs,” and for the first time, with participation from the United States.
In an interview with France’s RTL Radio, Macron acknowledged that the U.S.-backed peace framework “still needs improvement,” but stressed that Paris seeks a peace that is not “a capitulation.”
The reassurance force would be deployed “far away from the front line,” Macron added, and would focus on training and security missions in a post-war setting. “There are British, French, Turkish soldiers who, the day peace is signed, not in a context of war, are there to conduct training and security operations, as we do in certain countries on NATO’s eastern flank,” he said.
Macron noted that around 20 countries have already expressed readiness to participate in the mission, contributing capabilities either on land, at sea or in the air.
Türkiye, which has NATO’s second-largest army, has previously indicated its willingness to send troops to Ukraine under a U.N.-sanctioned or multinational peacekeeping mandate if necessary.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also joined a virtual meeting Tuesday of the so-called "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine, according to Communications Director Burhanettin Duran.
Duran said the meeting reviewed the current state of the Russia–Ukraine war, progress toward ending the conflict, and ongoing peace initiatives.
Erdogan told participating leaders that Türkiye would continue to facilitate direct contact between Kyiv and Moscow, aiming for a “just and lasting peace.” He reiterated that Ankara remains in close contact with both sides and stands ready to host future rounds of direct negotiations in Istanbul.
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The Kremlin said Tuesday it appreciates Türkiye’s continued support for a peaceful resolution to the war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Türkiye is playing a “constructive role” in mediation efforts.
“The Turkish side continues to offer its services, and we are grateful to our Turkish friends for this,” Peskov said. “We are ready to provide all the conditions for continuing the negotiation process.”
Since the early stages of the war, Türkiye has hosted several rounds of high-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, including three in Istanbul this year. Those talks yielded key outcomes, including prisoner exchanges and draft memoranda outlining both sides’ peace proposals.
In 2022, Türkiye hosted the first direct Russia–Ukraine talks and later brokered the Black Sea grain corridor agreement, enabling the export of Ukrainian agricultural products during wartime. Russia suspended its participation in the deal in July 2023.
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