Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans for a telephone conversation with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, scheduled for May 30. He indicated that the goal would be to urge both sides to keep channels of dialogue and diplomacy open as the conflict with Ukraine continues.
Sources in the Kremlin confirmed that discussions involving Putin and Erdogan were being arranged. A spokesman for Putin, Dmitry Peskov, stated that talks were planned in a bilateral format and that Zelensky would not participate in this particular round.
Erdogan noted that Ankara had anticipated a peaceful end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, but the course of events over time has appeared to worsen. The comment was reported through the Russian press agency, TASS.
Earlier conversations between the Turkish and Russian leaders occurred in late April, focusing on humanitarian conditions in Ukraine, the Donbas region, and the situation in Mariupol, including evacuations of civilians. Both sides agreed to maintain contact on these topics moving forward.
Simultaneously, Erdogan continued to engage with Zelensky, discussing Ukraine’s possible role in ongoing negotiations and expressing a willingness to participate in mediation aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In late March, the two countries’ delegations held talks in Istanbul as part of that broader effort.
Following those talks, Moscow indicated a reduction in military activity in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions and signaled openness to a Putin–Zelensky meeting. The caveat was that any peace framework would require endorsement by the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine.
Ankara has consistently expressed hope that such a high-level meeting could occur. By the end of April, Erdogan hinted that a summit might take place in Istanbul, depending on the progress of negotiations. He acknowledged some movement but warned that the pace was far from ideal, adding that there was still reason for cautious optimism.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu remarked that a direct meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents could be imminent, though the ultimate decision rested with Putin. The Kremlin clarified that Russia does not oppose a meeting with Zelensky, provided there is substantive progress in the peace talks and a clear framework for resolving the crisis in Ukraine.
Mid-May remarks from Ankara suggested that Zelensky had expressed gratitude for Turkey’s constructive and balanced stance and for the support shown to Ukraine, with voiced confidence in Turkey as a mediator. An official Ankara source stated that Zelensky confirmed willingness to meet Putin through Erdogan’s mediation channel, should conditions allow. Later, Zelensky clarified that any such meeting would occur only if Ukraine’s borders could be restored to their state as of February 23. Çavuşoğlu emphasized Erdogan’s overarching aim: to halt the war and bring the two leaders together, while continuing negotiations with both sides in the meantime.