While the world watches the grinding war in Ukraine drag on, Turkey is once again stepping up to try to bring the two sides to the negotiating table.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reached out directly to Vladimir Putin, offering Istanbul as the host city for a potential third round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Turkey Offers to Host Another Round of Talks
During a recent phone conversation, Erdogan stressed how crucial it is for Russia and Ukraine to keep the door open to dialogue.
According to reports from Turkey’s TRT Huber, citing the presidential office, Erdogan told Putin he’s ready to host the next round of negotiations in Istanbul—just as soon as both sides can settle on a date.
Erdogan’s administration made it clear: “The President emphasized the importance of launching a third round of peace negotiations, and Turkey stands ready to facilitate that in Istanbul whenever both parties are ready.”
Kremlin Responds with Diplomatic Support
The Kremlin didn’t brush off the offer.
In fact, Russian officials confirmed that Putin is still in favor of resolving the Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means rather than continuing military escalation.
It’s a noteworthy stance, given the ongoing battles and global tensions surrounding the war.
Bigger Conversations Beyond the War
Putin and Erdogan didn’t stop at Ukraine.
Their conversation also touched on broader issues, from Turkish-Russian relations to more volatile topics like Israel’s recent strikes in Syria.
It’s clear both leaders are using these calls not just for bilateral ties, but also to position themselves as power players in the global arena.
A Look Back at Earlier Peace Efforts
This isn’t Turkey’s first attempt to mediate.
Earlier this year, Erdogan managed to bring Russian and Ukrainian officials to Istanbul for two separate rounds of direct peace talks—first in May and then again in early June.
Those meetings weren’t groundbreaking, but they did lead to some meaningful steps: both sides agreed on the exchange of prisoners of war and wounded soldiers, and even drew up initial memorandums outlining potential terms for a longer-term resolution.
What’s Next?
Whether or not a third round of talks actually happens remains to be seen.
But with Turkey offering itself as a neutral ground and Putin at least signaling he’s still open to diplomacy, the stage might be set—if Ukraine also agrees—for the next chapter in this ongoing effort to end the war through negotiation instead of more bloodshed.