Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday to review recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the outcome of Putin’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, and ongoing peace negotiations, the Kremlin said in a statement.

During the call, Putin briefed Erdogan on his August 15 meeting with Trump in Alaska, where discussions focused on potential pathways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Putin expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s role in facilitating direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul, marking the first formal negotiations between the two sides since March 2022.

The leaders also discussed opportunities to enhance trade and investment ties, underscoring the importance of economic cooperation amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Istanbul negotiations, held in May and June 2025, have achieved limited progress but reached a key milestone with a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side. However, no breakthrough has been reached on a ceasefire. Ukraine continues to demand an immediate, unconditional 30-day truce, while Russia insists on addressing what it calls the “root causes” of the conflict, including demands for Ukrainian neutrality and territorial concessions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for a face-to-face summit with Putin, most recently proposing a high-level meeting by the end of August including Zelenskyy, Putin, Trump, and Erdogan. While Erdogan has expressed support for hosting such a summit in Türkiye, Putin indicated that substantial progress in negotiations is needed before top-level talks can occur.

Criticism has emerged over Russia’s delegation to the Istanbul talks, led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, with Zelenskyy describing it as “decorative” and lacking decision-making authority. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this view, saying a breakthrough is unlikely without direct engagement between Trump and Putin.

Despite ongoing skepticism about Russia’s intentions, the Kremlin highlighted Türkiye as a “reliable mediator” in the peace process. Erdogan emphasized that a comprehensive ceasefire is essential to create a conducive environment for sustainable negotiations. European leaders have warned of potential new sanctions on Russia if progress remains stalled.

As diplomatic efforts continue, Ankara’s mediation and the prospect of a multi-leader summit are seen as pivotal to advancing talks and reducing tensions in the region. (ILKHA)