Erdogan: Continued friendship with Trump crucial for Türkiye PHOTO

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that continued friendship with US President Donald Trump is important for Türkiye.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Ankara, Caliber.Az report, citing Turkish media.

He noted that Ankara supports the Trump administration's initiatives to end the Russia-Ukraine war: "In our meetings with Mr. Trump, we will bring these issues to the table and take our steps accordingly. I wish Mr. Trump's second term to be beneficial for all humanity, and I thank you as well."

Erdogan added that Türkiye is doing its best to end the war in Ukraine.

"Since he [Trump] insistently said, 'I will end the Russia-Ukraine War,' we, as Türkiye, will do whatever is necessary in this regard, because we are not in favour of wars in the world. As Türkiye, we stand for peace. With this peace, we believe that the solidarity among countries in the world will continue. Everything lies in peace, not in war. War does not lead to any meaningful outcome. We need to resolve this as soon as possible, " Erdogan said following the talks.

It is important to outline that Türkiye continues actively pursuing peace initiatives to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On January 20, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the urgent need for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine. He expressed Türkiye's commitment to this goal and announced plans to discuss the matter with newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump.

President Erdoğan reiterated that ending the war in Ukraine remains a priority for Türkiye in 2025. In his New Year's message, he stated, "Ending the war between Russia and Ukraine is among our priorities for 2025."

By Khagan Isayev