UPDATE - Türkiye to continue efforts for ‘fair peace’ between Russia, Ukraine: President Erdogan

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT, ADDS BACKGROUND

By Zehra Nur Duz and Merve Berker

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said that Ankara will continue its efforts for “fair peace” between Russia and Ukraine

"While we continue our solidarity with Ukraine, we will continue to endeavor to end the war with fair peace based on negotiations," Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymr Zelenskyy in Istanbul.

“I would also like to extend my condolences for the Ukrainian citizens who lost their lives in the two years of war,” he said, adding that he discussed the developments in the ongoing war “in detail” with Zelenskyy.

The negative repercussions of the war have been increasing on a regional and global scale, particularly in Ukraine, he said.

“No diplomatic step has been taken of a quality that could come close to the negotiating table we formed for the establishment of peace in Istanbul in March 2022,” Erdogan said.

“Since the beginning, we have made, and continue to make every contribution in our power for the termination of the war on the basis of negotiations,” he said, adding Ankara is ready to host a peace summit in which Russia will also participate.

- Navigation safety

The Turkish president further said: “In our consultations, we also exchanged views on issues related to the stability of the Black Sea, such as export corridors and safety of navigation.”

Erdogan said the Black Sea Grain Initiative allowed nearly 33 million tons of grain to reach those in need, preventing a global food crisis, adding that Ankara is ready again to do its best.

He emphasized that it is of great importance for Ukraine to become economically self-sustaining and secure in the coming period.

The Turkish president also said that his support for Ukraine's goal of integration into the Euro-Atlantic institutions remains unchanged.

“We are pleased that our bilateral trade is stable despite the war,” he said, adding that the two sides agreed to increase the target of bilateral trade to $10 billion.

“The entry into force of the free trade agreement (with Ukraine) as soon as possible will undoubtedly give a new impetus to our relations,” he added.

Pointing to the ongoing efforts from Turkish firms in Ukraine “despite all challenges that the war has brought,” he said that Türkiye will “strongly” support the reconstruction of the war-torn Ukraine.

Türkiye, internationally praised for its unique mediator role between Ukraine and Russia, has time and again called on Kyiv and Moscow to end the fighting through negotiations.

Turkish peace efforts were fruitful with some significant results, such as the landmark grain deal in July 2022, and the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow did not extend the deal after July 2023 citing restrictions on Russian grain exports.

Türkiye first hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in the Mediterranean city of Antalya in March 2022.

- Crimean Tatars

The Turkish president also touched on the issue of Crimean Tatars, saying that the presence of Crimean Tatars in Ukraine is one of the important elements that reinforces the friendship between the two countries and that the Crimean Tatars, who are an “indispensable part” of Ukraine, are fighting hard for the restoration of the territorial integrity of the country.

Thanking Zelenskyy for his efforts in guaranteeing the rights of Crimean Tatar compatriots and strengthening their autonomous status, Erdogan stated that Ankara has always supported and will continue to support their Crimean Tatar compatriots.

Responding to a question about the crisis stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan underlined the importance of three things: “One of them is food security, another is prisoner exchange and the third one is the guarantee of navigation.”

The two sides also signed an agreement on the “Establishment of Electronic Preliminary Information Exchange System for Goods and Vehicles.”