Turkey–Ukraine relations

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged all parties to avoid actions that could lead to the escalation of the war in Ukraine and its "potential spread to NATO."

Turkey is expected to emphasise its continued strong support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Istanbul on Friday, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

Türkiye is ready to host a peace summit between Russia and Ukraine, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul.

NATO member Türkiye has been positioning itself as a potential mediator between Moscow and Kiev since Russia launched its invasion more than two years ago.

"Türkiye is ready to act as a facilitator and host peace talks in order to achieve peace in Ukraine," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Erdoğan spoke over the phone with Zelensky, the Communications Directorate announced late on Jan 5.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, the Kremlin said on Friday.

Two Turkish sources told Reuters on Thursday that the meeting would primarily discuss Black Sea grain exports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is to visit Russia "soon" for talks with Vladimir Putin on reviving a deal to ship grain across the Black Sea, his party spokesman said Monday.

The meeting will take place in Russia's resort city of Sochi, Erdoğan's ruling party spokesman Ömer Çelik told reporters, adding that Türkiye hoped to avert a looming "food crisis".

Türkiye's top diplomat Hakan Fidan held talks with senior Ukrainian officials, including President Volodomyr Zelensky, on the ongoing Russian occupation of Ukraine and the resumption of the grain deal in his first visit to Kiev under his new capacity as the foreign minister.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to hold talks in person with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan soon, the Kremlin said on Friday, as Ankara attempts to persuade Moscow to return to the Black Sea grain deal.

The deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 to help alleviate a global food crisis, allowed grain shipments from Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

Turkish diplomatic efforts have surged ahead as Ankara plays a pivotal role in spearheading Russia's talks with Ukraine, the United States and EU nations with the aim of reviving a crucial grain agreement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the only person who can convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.