Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly session.

The leaders convened at the Turkish House to discuss key issues, including the Ukraine-Russia war, bilateral relations, and peace efforts.

During the meeting, President Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye's long-standing belief that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia can only be resolved through dialogue, while ensuring the preservation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He reiterated Türkiye's willingness to mediate and facilitate any steps that could contribute to a just and lasting peace.

"Türkiye is ready to take all kinds of facilitating steps, including mediation, to achieve peace. We have believed from the start that the war could end through dialogue," President Erdoğan stated. He also underscored the importance of reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative and expressed Türkiye’s continued efforts toward establishing a ceasefire that could pave the way for peace between Ukraine and Russia.

In addition to the Ukraine-Russia war, the two leaders discussed broader regional and global issues. The meeting reflected Türkiye's ongoing commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region.

President Zelenskyy welcomed Türkiye's role and efforts in facilitating peace talks and praised the country’s support for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.

Both nations pledged to continue working closely on matters of mutual interest and expressed hope for future cooperation in bringing about a peaceful resolution to the war. (ILKHA)