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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Türkiye is ready to act as a mediator and help pave the way for permanent peace in the region during a phone call on Monday, the Turkish Presidency said.
During the call, Erdogan also stated that Türkiye will continue its efforts to help end the war with a just and lasting peace.
The Turkish president emphasized Ankara’s willingness to support diplomatic initiatives and offer Istanbul as a venue for negotiations, according to statements from both governments.
According to a statement by the Kremlin, the two leaders held an exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine, "including in the context of American proposals for a peaceful settlement," Russian outlet RIA Novosti reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the plan, as submitted by the United States, aligns with positions discussed during his August 15 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.
He added that the text of the U.S. proposal, which Moscow has reviewed, could in principle serve as a foundation for a final agreement.
The U.S. initiative reportedly would require Ukraine to officially recognize Russia’s control over Crimea and all of Donbas, freeze most of the contact line in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, reduce the size of its military by half, and ban the stationing of foreign troops or long-range weapons on its territory.
While Putin emphasized that the proposal has not yet been discussed in detail, he confirmed that Russia is prepared to negotiate and pursue a peaceful resolution, even as Moscow remains confident in achieving its military objectives by force.
The Kremlin added that Erdogan conveyed Türkiye’s readiness to assist the negotiation process and reiterated his offer to provide Istanbul as a platform for direct contact between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.
Russian officials said Erdogan expressed his intention to offer "all possible assistance" to advance the talks.
Türkiye has hosted several earlier rounds of talks in Istanbul, facilitating humanitarian outcomes. Three rounds of negotiations held in Istanbul between May and July resulted in a "1,000-for-1,000" prisoner swap, the release of vulnerable detainees, and the repatriation of remains.
Both leaders agreed to intensify Russian–Turkish contacts on the peace process at various levels, the Kremlin said.
According to the statement, President Erdogan also shared impressions from his participation in the G20 summit in Johannesburg, where he held discussions with other world leaders on regional stability and conflict resolution.
Beyond the war in Ukraine, Erdogan and Putin also reviewed areas of bilateral cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade and investment ties and advancing joint energy projects.
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