Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed his desire to confer with US President Donald Trump on a Ukraine-Russia peace initiative, asserting that “peace is not distant.”
Erdogan met with Putin in Turkmenistan on Friday to assess “comprehensive peace efforts” aimed at ending the war, according to Erdogan’s office, which emphasised Turkey’s willingness to support peace initiatives.
“Following this meeting with Putin, we anticipate the opportunity to discuss the peace plan with US President Trump as well.” “Peace is within reach; we recognize that,” Erdogan stated to reporters during his return flight from Turkmenistan.
Erdogan informed Putin on Friday that a restricted ceasefire in the conflict, including targeting energy facilities and ports, could be advantageous.
The Black Sea ought not to be perceived as a theatre of conflict. Erdogan stated in remarks published by his office on Saturday that such a situation would be solely detrimental to Russia and Ukraine.
All individuals require secure navigation on the Black Sea. This must be guaranteed.
This weekend, Trump’s special envoy will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders in Berlin, the White House said. At the same time, Washington advocates a strategy to end Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
Before the discussions, Zelensky cautioned yesterday that Russia “continues to seek the annihilation” of Ukraine, as Kyiv reported “significant” Russian assaults on energy infrastructure overnight, resulting in widespread power outages throughout the nation.
Russia announced it has targeted Ukrainian infrastructure with hypersonic ballistic missiles, describing the action as retribution for Ukrainian assaults.
An 80-year-old woman was fatally struck by a Russian shell that impacted a residential structure in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy area, according to the regional governor.
Trump has intensified pressure on Kyiv to secure an agreement after unveiling a proposal to conclude the war last month, which was criticised for mirroring Moscow’s demands, including Ukraine relinquishing vital territory.
The 28-point proposal has sparked extensive diplomatic activity between the United States and Ukraine’s European allies, with Kyiv officials recently indicating they had submitted a revised version to Washington.
The comprehensive specifics on the revised proposal have yet to be disclosed.
A White House official confirmed to AFP on Friday that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, will meet with Zelensky and European leaders over the weekend to discuss the progress of peace efforts.
The proposal for Ukraine’s rapid membership to the European Union, which Moscow contests, is incorporated in the most recent iteration of the US-led plan.
Europeans and Ukrainians are requesting that the United States furnish them with “security guarantees” before Ukraine makes any territorial concessions, France stated on Friday.
