Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a telephone conversation, expressing a desire to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During recent negotiations, Zelensky conveyed his wish to hold a direct meeting with Putin. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu indicated that Ankara remains hopeful about progress in the talks.
After meeting Zelensky, Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s readiness to continue providing support, including mediation, to restart Moscow-Kyiv discussions.
Later that day, in a call with Putin, Erdogan suggested a trilateral gathering in Istanbul that would involve Russia, Ukraine, and the United Nations. He also voiced concerns about safe navigation through the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and urged a prompt resolution of those issues.
Turkey has consistently pressed for renewed talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Erdogan has voiced hope that the conflict could end once the parties reach a reconciliation, yet the negotiation process has stalled and the Turkish president warned that the situation is deteriorating over time.
Zelensky has repeatedly indicated readiness to meet Putin and has asked other leaders to help broker discussions. Erdogan has proposed several times that negotiations take place in Turkey. On May 28, leaders Emmanuel Macron of France and Olaf Scholz of Germany urged Putin to directly meet Zelensky and to withdraw Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
Turkey’s stance on sanctions
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry underscored that Ankara will not participate in sanctions against Moscow.
“Sanctions against Russia have also affected Turkey. Our position is clear because of the mediation role we play. We are not aligned with those measures and we will not allow them to be channelled through us”, the minister stated.
According to the minister, Turkey favors a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine on Turkish soil and does not support victory through force.
There has been a renewed move toward dialogue, particularly given Ukraine’s high war costs. Turkey is seeking to restart face-to-face talks between Moscow and Kyiv, including at the heads-of-state level, the minister added.
In April Çavuşoğlu acknowledged that Ankara would participate in sectoral anti-Russian sanctions if the United Nations approves them, though Turkish authorities have thus far avoided such measures. The minister remarked that sanctions alone will not solve the problem.
Upcoming talks with Lavrov
Çavuşoğlu announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Turkey to discuss regional security and related topics. He noted that Lavrov would arrive on June 8 to discuss establishing a security corridor in the Black Sea and the movement of grain-carrying ships.
The Turkish side stated that Lavrov would be accompanied by a military delegation and would hold meetings with Turkish counterparts during the visit.
The issue of grain shipments and blocked ports was a topic of conversation between Putin and Erdogan, with Putin signaling Russia’s willingness to support unhindered sea transit in coordination with Turkish partners.
Turkey’s position on Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership links to how Ankara views the demands they have set. Ankara indicated that its conditions must be met before any endorsement. Officials have stressed the need to end support for terrorist organizations and to receive guarantees that address Turkey’s security concerns.
Notes: Officials referenced in these reports emphasised efforts to bridge gaps through dialogue and diplomacy. The information reflects statements and statements of intent issued in public remarks and statements by the involved governments (as reported by state media and press outlets). For a broader context, readers can consult regional briefings and official press conferences from the Turkish MFA and the offices of the Ukrainian and Russian presidents. Citations are provided for transparency and attribution.