Portrait of Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Politician · person
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Mediator and supporter (strong)

TL;DR

Recep Tayyip Erdogan consistently supports Volodymyr Zelenskyy's sovereignty while actively pursuing a mediating role for peace talks.

Key Points

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his country's readiness to host a summit involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to facilitate peace talks.

  • He publicly stated that any negotiations excluding Ukraine would not result in a lasting peace, thus backing Zelenskyy's negotiating stance.

  • The Turkish President indicated that Ukraine deserves membership in NATO during a meeting with the Ukrainian leader in July 2023.

Summary

Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains a position of strong support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, frequently communicating with him through phone calls and face-to-face meetings. The Turkish President has publicly stated that any negotiations or peace process must include Ukraine and that a simulated peace would only encourage further Russian aggression. He also confirmed his country's readiness to host high-level peace summits involving Ukraine, Russia, and other global partners.

This engagement has seen him congratulate the Ukrainian leader on national holidays and discuss the status of security guarantees, with Turkish officials indicating a willingness for Türkiye to contribute, particularly regarding Black Sea security. Furthermore, the Turkish President expressed support for Ukraine's aspirations, noting that Ukraine deserves membership in NATO, showcasing a supportive stance toward Kyiv's broader geopolitical goals alongside his diplomatic mediation efforts.

Key Quotes

The President of Türkiye stated that any negotiations without Ukraine will not bring lasting peace.

... any negotiations without Ukraine will not bring lasting peace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains a positive and constructive relationship with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, engaging frequently through high-level meetings and phone calls. He strongly supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity while acting as a diplomatic facilitator in the conflict.

There is no indication that the Turkish President's core stance has changed; it remains consistently supportive of Ukraine’s independence and committed to mediating peace. His engagement continues to be characterized by strong diplomatic backing for Kyiv.

The Turkish President consistently stresses that a fair and lasting peace requires negotiations involving both sides and has underlined that any resolution without Ukraine's participation is not genuine. He has expressed Türkiye's readiness to facilitate these high-level contacts.