Türkiye's president pushes for ceasefires in Ukraine, Middle East at NATO summit

Türkiye remains committed to promoting a just and lasting peace to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

“The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has had consequences on both regional and global levels. Türkiye continues its efforts to end it on the basis of a fair and sustainable peace,” Erdogan stated during a press briefing held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

He added that a window of opportunity has opened for achieving a ceasefire and establishing lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Turning to the Middle East, the Turkish president said Ankara welcomes the ceasefire reached between Israel and Iran, made possible through the efforts of US President Donald Trump. Erdogan expressed hope that this truce will evolve into permanent peace.

“Everyone must contribute to ensuring peace in the Middle East,” Erdogan stressed, calling for unwavering commitment from both sides to comply with the ceasefire terms.

He also warned that the recent military escalation between Israel and Iran had pushed the region to the brink of major risks, noting that Türkiye had been engaged in active diplomacy from the onset of the crisis.

“Long-term resolution of disputes with Iran is possible through diplomacy and dialogue. The region offers many examples that war and destruction lead nowhere,” he added.

On NATO affairs, Erdogan emphasised that alliance members had agreed at the current summit to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP over the next decade.

He noted that Türkiye was the driving force behind the inclusion of a NATO vision in summit documents that calls for the removal of trade barriers on defence industry products among allies. He also noted that full integration of NATO members not part of the EU into EU defence initiatives would serve the interests of all of Europe.

Erdogan concluded by stressing that success in combating terrorism can only be achieved through genuine solidarity among allies. He confirmed that, at Türkiye’s initiative, the threat of terrorism was explicitly addressed in the NATO summit declaration.

By Khagan Isayev