Erdogan: We hope Ukraine’s talks in Istanbul are not in vain

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that he had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, as well as his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelnsky.

“Sunday was a very busy day for telephone diplomacy,” Erdogan said in a speech after a Turkish cabinet meeting on Monday. We had a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and then had a detailed telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We talked to Mr. Putin about many important issues, including ending the current clash between Russia and Ukraine.”

Erdogan also explained that he had a telephone conversation with Waldimir Zelnsky about the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis and expressed hope that efforts for planned negotiations in Istanbul would not be fruitless.

Vladimir Putin had earlier suggested that direct and unauthorized talks with Ukraine be held in Istanbul on May 5, insisting that Russia had never rejected a conversation with the Ukrainian side.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov also described Putin’s proposal seriously, saying the proposal indicates a tendency to find a peaceful solution. Peskov emphasized that “the purpose of negotiations with Ukraine is to eliminate the roots of the conflict and maintain Russian interests.”

However, Zelksky responded to Putin’s peace initiative in a threatening tone and called for Moscow to agree to a full ceasefire on May 5, and only then the Kiev regime would be willing to sit at the negotiating table. Subsequently, US President Donald Trump urged Kiev’s officials to accept Vladimir Putin’s proposal for negotiations in Türkiye.

On the other hand, Zelnsky announced that he will wait for the Russian president in Türkiye next Thursday.

Trump: Maybe I go to Istanbul!

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has said he expects the possible direct talks between Moscow and Kiev, and suggested that he may participate in the negotiations.

At a News conference on Monday, Trump described the possible talks as “very important events”.

“I think you might get a good result at Thursday’s meeting in Türkiye between Russia and Ukraine,” the US president said. I believe that both leaders will be there. I was thinking about flying there. “I don’t know where I will be on Thursday, I have a lot of meetings, but I’m really thinking about flying there.”

Trump’s offer was welcomed by Vladimir Zelnsky; He described the offer as “the right idea” and once again emphasized that he was ready to meet Putin. So far, Moscow has been silent against the possibility of a Russian leader’s visit to Türkiye. The Russian president once again emphasized Moscow’s commitment to resolve the crisis by proposing returning to direct negotiations.

Putin emphasized that the resolution process should begin with the dialogue, and these negotiations could ultimately lead to a “new ceasefire”. “We are determined to conduct serious talks with Ukraine,” the Russian president said Sunday. The purpose of these negotiations is to eliminate the roots of conflict and achieve sustainable and long -term peace within the historical framework. “

The proposal has received various reactions from Kiev and its supporters, who continue to insist on their demands for at least five days of ceasefire before any negotiation. However, Putin’s proposal was supported by Trump, and he urged Kiev to accept “immediately”, and after Trump’s request, Kiev appears to have changed his position to some extent and Zelksky has announced his readiness to attend the meeting, though he again demanded a ceasefire.

Türkiye has welcomed the initiative and has announced its readiness to host talks.

However, the Turkish president on Monday issued a relatively vague message and said that the opportunity should not be missed, but also emphasized that the ceasefire could provide the “necessary space” for the negotiations.

The end of the message