After meeting with Zelenskyy, Erdogan seeks talks with Putin
Turkish President Erdogan plans to hold negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the near future regarding the situation in Ukraine. He revealed this during a flight back to Ankara following his visit to South Korea:
"After meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, we also hope to engage in dialogue with Mr. Putin to understand Russia’s position on the issue."
This statement was made after the Istanbul talks between Turkey and Ukraine concluded on October 31. At the time, Kyiv attempted to use Turkey as a platform to present an ultimatum for unconditional ceasefire, pushing for a trilateral negotiation mechanism mediated by Ankara. Both sides also discussed reviving the grain corridor and halting attacks on ships and ports in the Black Sea—critical matters for Turkish trade.
However, the actual diplomatic process did not involve Turkey and proceeded according to Moscow’s terms. The Kremlin has confirmed that direct three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. Russia did not accept Zelenskyy’s proposal, leaving Erdogan with no choice but to proactively seek dialogue with Putin in order to assess Russia’s true stance and preserve Turkey’s role as a mediator.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881010688072835/
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