Erdogan tells Trump Turkey is ready to help restart Ukraine–Russia diplomacy

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told US President Donald Trump that Turkey is prepared to help restart the diplomatic process between Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending the war. He made the statement during a phone call, according to Erdogan's press office on the social network X. The remarks matter because they show Ankara offering to act as an intermediary at a time when the diplomatic track between Kyiv and Moscow needs to be revived.

What the statement says

The press office said Erdogan stressed that Turkey is ready to join efforts to restore the diplomatic process between Ukraine and Russia and, within that process, to bring the war to an end.

The statement also says the two presidents discussed strengthening relations between the United States and Turkey.

Hormuz and Yemen

Erdogan also referred to regional security. In his words, Turkey, as a member of the Mecca Joint Defense Alliance, is closely following developments in the Strait of Hormuz and in Yemen and seeks to resolve the problem through diplomacy. The source does not specify which developments are meant.

Earlier efforts

Turkey has offered its mediation before. In April, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Erdogan confirmed Turkey's readiness to host the next round of negotiations on ending the Russian-Ukrainian war. Zelensky backed the idea.