Erdoğan reassures Zelensky of Türkiye's commitment to facilitate peace

NEW YORK

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye's readiness to facilitate peace between Ukraine and Russia, including through mediation efforts, during a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Turkish House on the sidelines of the 79th U.N. General Assembly session in New York.

Stating that Türkiye has believed from the beginning that the Russia-Ukraine war can be ended through dialogue while preserving Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Erdoğan told Zelensky that Ankara is continuing its efforts to achieve this goal, according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

Erdoğan said that efforts are ongoing to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative and establish a ceasefire, which could pave the way for peace between Kiev and Moscow.

Türkiye is continuing its efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022.

Ankara has urged Kiev and Moscow to end the fighting through negotiations, with Türkiye ready for any initiative, including mediation, to lay the groundwork for peace.

Türkiye first hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in the Mediterranean city of Antalya in March 2022.

Those efforts led to the landmark Black Sea grain deal in 2022, but Moscow did not extend the agreement after July 2023, citing restrictions on Russian grain exports.

Efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenia relations

Erdoğan also received Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, discussing steps toward normalizing relations between Türkiye and Armenia and fostering peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

He noted "significant progress" in the normalization process, affirming Türkiye’s support for lasting peace and friendship between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The president said that "Türkiye supports the establishment of lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the establishment of a solid friendship between the two countries in the new period," according to the Communications Directorate.

Türkiye and Armenia have been working to normalize ties since appointing special representatives in 2021. In July, representatives met at the Alican-Margara border crossing, reaffirming a commitment to move forward without preconditions.

Erdoğan expressed his "sincere support" for continuing the dialogue process and presented Pashinyan with a copy of his book, 'A Fairer World is Possible.'

Greece talks

Erdoğan also engaged with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss bilateral relations and global issues, including the conflict in Gaza.

Emphasizing the importance of positive neighborliness, Erdoğan stressed the benefits of strengthening dialogue and maintaining the spirit of the Athens Declaration.

"President Erdoğan pointed out that strengthening the dialogue between the two countries and acting in accordance with the wording and spirit of the Athens Declaration will benefit both countries," according to a statement by the Communications Directorate.

Erdoğan and Mitsotakis agreed to host a High-Level Cooperation Council meeting in Türkiye in early 2025.

Additionally, Erdoğan met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reaffirming the mutual commitment to enhance cooperation in key areas, particularly in the defense industry and economy.