Erdogan and Zelensky deliberate on Ukraine war, peacemaking endeavors

In a significant development, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey held a conversation with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on August 28, 2025. The discussion centred around the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

During the call, Erdogan expressed his readiness to contribute to Ukraine's security once peace is established. He also reiterated Turkey's commitment to working towards a "lasting peace" in Ukraine.

The Turkish President also discussed recent high-level diplomatic events, including a summit in Alaska between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Erdogan mentioned Trump's meeting with Zelensky and European allies, emphasising the importance of these meetings in resolving the conflict.

Erdogan further stated that Turkey closely monitors these diplomatic events and is prepared to help facilitate high-level contacts between the warring sides. He also emphasised the need to strengthen negotiations in order to achieve a peaceful resolution.

The conversation between the two leaders also touched upon bilateral ties and regional and global issues.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. Umerov bid farewell during this meeting, but the specific details of what he said or conveyed in this farewell are not available in the search results.

Unfortunately, the conflict in Ukraine continues to claim lives, with at least 15 people being killed in Kiev due to Russian missile and drone strikes. This marks one of the deadliest incidents in the capital.

Despite calls for a swift end to the conflict, the Kremlin has rejected these calls, insisting on Kiev ceding more territory and abandoning Western military support. These terms have been rejected by Zelensky's government.

As the international community continues to work towards a peaceful resolution, the situation in Ukraine remains a pressing concern.