In a bold diplomatic push, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump this week to explore hosting a Ukraine summit in Istanbul. The move comes amid the third round of peace talks that kicked off in the city earlier on Wednesday.
Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul that he will seek to hold further talks with Putin and Trump in the coming days as part of efforts to convene a high-level meeting. His goal is to bring these global leaders together on neutral ground in Turkey to chart a path toward de-escalation.
Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate meetings with the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, while the Ukrainian team also met Erdogan in Ankara before arriving in Istanbul. The talks produced agreement on another prisoner exchange but fell short on key ceasefire terms and scheduling a formal summit.
The Ukrainian side has proposed a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by the end of August, highlighting that the presence of Trump and Erdogan would be especially valuable. The Russian delegation, however, has said a summit is off the table until certain processes are completed on the ground.
Why it matters: Istanbul’s unique position as a bridge between Europe and Asia makes it an ideal venue for transformative diplomacy. A three-way summit could inject fresh momentum into stalled negotiations and signal a new chapter in conflict resolution.
Key takeaways:
- Erdogan aims for calls with Putin and Trump this week
- Third round of Istanbul talks saw progress on prisoner swaps
- Ceasefire terms and summit timing remain unresolved
- Ukraine pushes for an end-of-August Putin-Zelenskyy meeting with Trump and Erdogan
What’s next? Watch for potential coordination calls and a tentative summit date in Istanbul as leaders test pathways to peace.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
