Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war through diplomacy, Black Sea security and bilateral economic cooperation during a meeting at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office in Istanbul.

Speaking at a joint press conference following their meeting, Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts to end the war, stressing that a fair peace agreement would benefit all sides.

“There are no losers in a just peace,” Erdoğan said, expressing his condolences to Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for those killed in the conflict.

Erdoğan welcomed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war, particularly those involving US President Donald Trump, and recalled that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine hosted by Türkiye had demonstrated that diplomacy could produce concrete results.

He said Ankara remained ready to make every possible effort to facilitate peace and bring the conflict to an end.

The two leaders also discussed maritime security in the Black Sea, where Erdoğan warned that the expansion of hostilities into the region could further undermine stability and threaten civilian shipping.

“Attacks on civilian ships and actions that would escalate tensions in the Black Sea would benefit no one,” he said, emphasizing that Türkiye could not accept such attacks regardless of who carried them out or what justification was offered.

Erdoğan called on all parties to act responsibly and said Türkiye would continue engaging with the parties involved to restore the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.

He added that Ankara intended to discuss the issue with Moscow as part of efforts to reduce tensions and advance negotiations toward a lasting peace in Ukraine.

The Turkish president said an agreement on maritime security could also give fresh impetus to broader diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the war.

Erdoğan also reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, describing Ukraine as a strategic partner.

He highlighted the entry into force on October 1 of the free trade agreement signed by the two countries in 2022, calling it an important milestone in bilateral economic relations.

According to Erdoğan, the agreement would help Türkiye and Ukraine move closer to their shared goal of increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion.

The Turkish president also praised Turkish companies that have continued operating in Ukraine despite the challenges posed by the war.

Erdoğan expressed confidence that these companies would play a significant role in rebuilding the country once conditions allow for reconstruction on a wider scale.

“I believe that our companies, which have not left Ukraine despite the difficult conditions of war, will, inshallah, make significant contributions to the country’s reconstruction as well,” he said.

Türkiye has sought to maintain diplomatic engagement with both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, positioning itself as a potential facilitator of negotiations while emphasizing regional stability and the security of Black Sea shipping. (ILKHA)