Ankara talks stretch to 3 hours as Erdogan, Zelenskyy explore path to peace

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a high-level meeting in Ankara that lasted nearly three hours, underscoring the weight of discussions amid heightened diplomatic efforts surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The closed-door bilateral meeting, followed by a working dinner involving both delegations at the Presidential Complex, lasted a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes — a duration that reflects the depth and seriousness of the topics discussed, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

Key Turkish officials present at the meeting included Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, Director of the National Intelligence Organization İbrahim Kalın, and Chief Adviser on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç.

Zelenskyy arrived in Türkiye’s capital earlier in the day, landing at Esenboğa Airport at 12:14 p.m. local time (0914 GMT). He was greeted by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and other Ukrainian officials attending the NATO foreign ministers’ summit in Antalya.

The meeting was held ahead of the anticipated Russia-Ukraine peace talks, and according to Türkiye’s Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, discussions were expected to cover the full scope of recent developments in the ongoing war. He noted that President Erdoğan would reiterate Türkiye’s call for an immediate ceasefire and a resumption of peace negotiations.

Ankara continues to position itself as a pivotal mediator in the conflict, leveraging its regional influence and diplomatic channels to push for de-escalation and dialogue. The extended duration of the meeting signals the shared urgency and strategic coordination between Türkiye and Ukraine as they navigate the path forward.

By Vafa Guliyeva