Turkey has proposed to host a landmark summit between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a renewed push to end the three-year war in Ukraine.
Speaking in Kyiv on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced the proposal, positioning Turkey as a neutral mediator capable of bridging the divide between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv. As a NATO member with strong ties to both Ukraine and Russia, Turkey has continued its diplomatic balancing act throughout the conflict.
“We sincerely think that it is possible to cap the first and second direct Istanbul talks with a meeting between Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky, under the direction of Mr. [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan,” Fidan said.
The proposal comes amid growing international calls for a ceasefire and a sustainable resolution to the conflict, which has devastated Ukraine and shaken global security dynamics.
“We can either close our eyes to the continuation of this war, or reach a durable peace before the end of the year,” Fidan added. “Expectations for a ceasefire and peace have increased.”
Fidan emphasized the importance of sustained diplomacy, saying, “Progress can certainly be made as long as we remain at the negotiating table.”
The Turkish foreign minister, who is scheduled to meet President Zelensky in Kyiv later in the day, also held discussions with senior Russian officials earlier this week, underlining Ankara’s active role in back-channel diplomacy.
What you should know
Turkey previously hosted negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in 2022 and 2023.
With President Trump now actively promoting a peace deal as part of his foreign policy platform, Ankara sees a unique opportunity to bring all three leaders together under President Erdogan’s mediation.
