Erdogan stated that Turkey wants to restore the Istanbul process between Ukraine and Russia, but with “broader content”

Turkey and Ukraine have declared their intention to resume the Istanbul peace talks aimed at ending the Russian-Ukrainian war.

This was the focus of a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, held in Ankara on Wednesday, just a few hours after one of the largest Russian attacks on Ukraine, involving more than 470 drones and 48 missiles.

Both leaders emphasized Turkey’s role as a key mediator. Erdoğan noted that the Istanbul process should be revived “within a comprehensive framework that can address the most pressing issues at this moment.”

Zelensky, in turn, expressed hope for the resumption of prisoner exchanges with Russia by the end of the year and stressed his confidence in Ankara’s mediation efforts:

“We trust the strength of Turkish diplomacy and its ability to be understood in Moscow,” the Ukrainian president said, thanking Turkey for its support of Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity.

Erdoğan recalled that Turkey had already hosted three rounds of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in 2025, during which progress was made primarily on humanitarian issues. According to Turkish officials, during the meetings in May, June, and July, the parties were able to directly discuss ceasefire mechanisms and possible parameters of a peace agreement.

“The Istanbul talks represent an important milestone in diplomatic efforts at a time when the devastating consequences of the war continue to worsen,” Erdoğan stressed at the joint press conference.

He added that Ankara is ready to discuss with Moscow “any proposals that would accelerate a ceasefire and pave the way to a just and lasting peace.”

Despite the statements about readiness for dialogue, the diplomatic landscape remains tense. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “Moscow is open to continuing, Moscow is open to negotiations,” but placed responsibility for the pause in dialogue on Kyiv. At the same time, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian representatives did not take part in the meeting in Ankara.

Additional uncertainty was introduced by the American factor. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff had initially planned to attend the consultations but cancelled his visit. Meanwhile, reports emerged that the administration of Donald Trump, together with Russia, is working on a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, with talks with the Russian side also overseen by Witkoff.

Previous Istanbul rounds resulted in several successful prisoner exchanges but did not produce a breakthrough on a sustainable ceasefire. At the current meeting, Ankara and Kyiv also discussed strengthening cooperation in the defense industry and the prospects for joint production projects, intended to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries amid the ongoing conflict.