11.05.2025 13:40
President Erdoğan met with French President Macron. Erdoğan stated that the negotiation table proposed by Putin to be established in Istanbul is a historic turning point. He also emphasized that Turkey is ready to provide all kinds of contributions, including hosting negotiations, to achieve a ceasefire and lasting peace.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on the phone with French President Macron. An announcement was made by the Directorate of Communications regarding the matter.
In the statement made by the Directorate of Communications, it was said, "Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. In the meeting, bilateral relations between Turkey and France, as well as regional and global issues, were discussed.
RESPONDED TO PUTIN'S STATEMENT
In the meeting, President Erdoğan stated that a historic turning point has been reached in the efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing the need to seize this opportunity, and expressed Turkey's readiness to provide all kinds of contributions, including hosting negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace. Our President noted the importance of continuing cooperation in the sensitive processes of starting permanent peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and the reconstruction of Ukraine." it was stated.
MEETING ON MAY 15 IN TURKEY
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a statement made at a press conference held yesterday in the capital Moscow, said, "We are declaring a ceasefire for the third time in Ukraine," and proposed the unconditional resumption of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15.
Putin highlighted Turkey's role in organizing the Russia-Ukraine negotiations and announced that he would meet with President Erdoğan in reference to today. Putin stated, "We have a meeting with President Erdoğan tomorrow. I ask him to provide such an opportunity for negotiations to be held in Turkey. I hope he confirms his willingness to contribute to the search for peace in Ukraine. We are determined to engage in serious negotiations with Ukraine," he evaluated.
RESPONSE FROM UKRAINE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's ceasefire announcement and the proposal for unconditional direct talks in Istanbul on May 15.
Zelensky, in a post on his X account in English and Ukrainian, stated, "It is a positive sign that the Russians are finally starting to consider ending the war. The whole world has been waiting for this for a very long time. The first step to truly ending any war is a ceasefire," he said.
Zelensky continued his remarks as follows: "There is no point in continuing to kill for one more day. We expect Russia to confirm a - complete, lasting, and reliable - ceasefire starting tomorrow, May 12; Ukraine is ready for talks."