Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the possibility of holding new peace negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States in Turkey during a meeting in Istanbul on Saturday, October 31, as Ankara intensified efforts to position itself as a diplomatic intermediary in the four-year conflict.
The meeting, held at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office, focused on possible negotiations in November, security in the Black Sea and renewed efforts to protect commercial shipping. Erdogan also expressed concern over attacks on civilian vessels, while Zelensky welcomed Turkey’s willingness to support diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending Russia’s invasion.
Discussions included the possibility of arranging a summit involving Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. No agreement on a venue or date has been announced.
Erdogan offers Turkey as venue for new peace negotiations
Following the meeting, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine was preparing for trilateral negotiations with Washington and Moscow during the first half of November. He said the discussions with Erdogan had covered possible formats involving Turkey, European governments and other international partners.
Zelensky said Erdogan was interested in hosting negotiations at the leadership level and intended to raise the possibility directly with Trump and Putin. Kyiv has expressed support for a trilateral leaders’ meeting in Turkey, although discussions among technical negotiating teams are currently expected to take place in Abu Dhabi, potentially between November 6 and 10.
Erdogan, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of restoring security in the Black Sea, where attacks on merchant vessels have intensified. Speaking alongside Zelensky, he condemned attacks on civilian shipping regardless of their origin and pledged to continue discussions with Moscow and Kyiv.
The two leaders also agreed to work toward restoring a functioning Black Sea grain corridor, building on Turkey’s role in the 2022 agreement that facilitated Ukrainian agricultural exports. Ankara believes a limited maritime arrangement could help create conditions for broader peace negotiations.
Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that Erdogan welcomed the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Trump administration and reiterated Turkey’s readiness to facilitate further talks.
The meeting also addressed bilateral economic cooperation and additional Turkish assistance to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has suffered extensive damage from Russian attacks.
Turkey’s diplomatic ambitions and its balancing act between Moscow and Kyiv
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey has pursued a policy combining support for Ukraine’s sovereignty with the preservation of extensive economic and diplomatic relations with Moscow.
Ankara has supplied military equipment to Ukraine, including Turkish-made drones, and restricted the passage of warships through the Bosporus and Dardanelles under the Montreux Convention. It has also hosted several rounds of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, including three meetings in 2025, and helped facilitate prisoner exchanges.
However, unlike the United States and European Union, Turkey has not adopted the Western economic sanctions imposed on Russia. Turkish authorities maintain that the country is not legally bound by those measures, although they say they will prevent Turkish territory and financial institutions from being used to circumvent them.
According to a recent report by the US Congressional Research Service, Russia remains a major supplier of oil and natural gas to Turkey, while the two countries continue cooperating on large-scale projects, including the Russian-built Akkuyu nuclear power plant. Western authorities have also scrutinized trade and financial transactions involving Turkish companies over concerns about possible sanctions evasion.
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