Turkish president’s press secretary talks on trip to Ukraine’s Kyiv

The continuation of Turkey’s Istanbul negotiation process can play a key role in ending this war [Russia-Ukraine war].

“We intensively continue our work in this sphere,” press secretary of the Turkish president Ibrahim Kalin said while speaking about the Russia-Ukraine war, Anadolu reports. 

The delegation, which includes Kalin and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, visited Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

As part of the visit, the press secretary was received by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and met with Head of the Ukrainian presidential administration Andriy Yermak.
Kalin participated in the iftar [meal eaten by Muslims after sunset during Ramadan] at the Turkish embassy in Kyiv, where he met with Turkish citizens and representatives of the Crimean Tatar Turks. 

“The purpose of this visit is to discuss the Turkey-Ukraine relations and of course, the ongoing war, as well as efforts to end this war,” Kalin said in an interview with a correspondent of Anadolu news agency at the Turkish embassy in Kyiv. 

Kalin reminded that from the very beginning of the war, Turkey, represented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been making intensive efforts to end the war. 

“End of the war, conflicts through negotiations and a dialogue is our main goal. Unfortunately, the longer the war goes on, the more difficult the conditions for peace are. The situation has become even more acute, especially in terms of attacks on civilians. We had broad discussions on these issues and on the evacuation of civilians from Ukraine’s Mariupol city, especially on the opening of a humanitarian corridor,” Kalin said. 

The press-secretary spoke about meetings with President Zelensky and Yermak. 

Kalin said that Zelensky thanked Turkey for support, as well as for the balanced diplomacy which it protects and implements, as well as for its priority of holding negotiations. 

The press-secretary said that the hostilities are intensively conducted on the 66th day of the war in Mariupol, Kherson, Kharkiv and around Donbas in eastern Ukraine. 

“The continuation of the Istanbul process can play a key role in ending this war. We continue working on this issue. President Erdogan spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. We will continue making efforts in this sphere,” Kalin added. 

“We are discussing what role the UN will play here. We will intensify our efforts both bilaterally and in coordination with the UN for reaching a ceasefire and to evacuate civilians,” Kalin said commenting on the UN’s role in ending the Russia-Ukraine war,” press-secretary added. 

Kalin reminded that President Erdogan held phone talks with UN Secretary General António Guterres.

The press-secretary emphasized the importance of dialogue with Russia. 

“As you know, we still hold talks with Russia. Our foreign minister, minister of national defense and other officials continue looking for ways out,” the press-secretary added.
“We will continue to hold talks with the Russian side. If everyone ignores Russia, how can the Russian side be convinced and persuaded to make peace? The main task is to achieve an end of the war and sign a peace treaty.