Erdogan Communicates with Zelenskyy: A Ceasefire in Second Round of Talks Could Be a Significant Step Towards Peace

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which emphasis was placed on the continuation of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul. The second round of these talks is expected to take place on June 2. According to an announcement from the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate, Erdogan stated that Turkey is making active efforts for a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia. He expressed satisfaction with the positive outcomes of the talks held in Istanbul on May 16 and the swift completion of the prisoner exchange. Erdogan also mentioned that a potential ceasefire decision during the upcoming second round of talks would be a significant step towards peace. The goal, he said, is to maintain the momentum achieved in the negotiation process by ensuring strong participation from both delegations. Furthermore, Erdogan emphasized that a meeting between leaders following the delegation talks would contribute to the peace process and should occur without delay. Meanwhile, on Friday (May 30), Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan concluded a two-day visit to Ukraine, following his earlier visit to Moscow, both aimed at peace efforts regarding the war in Ukraine. Fidan met with Ukrainian officials, including President Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul. Earlier, on Wednesday (May 28), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had proposed resuming talks on June 2 in Istanbul.