Erdogan Plans to Talk to Putin on Ending Ukraine War After Istanbul Meeting With Zelenskyy
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he intends to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending Russia's war against Ukraine after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul on October 31. The Kremlin said no concrete Putin-Erdogan meeting was planned, though it could be arranged quickly, while trilateral U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks were scheduled for November 10–11 in the United Arab Emirates.
Key points
- Erdogan and Zelenskyy met in Istanbul on October 31.
- Erdogan said he plans to discuss ending the war with Putin and examine Russia's role in the conflict.
- Turkish officials are consulting Ukraine and Russia about possible talks on Turkish territory.
- Zelenskyy said he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey if Ankara organized it.
- Trilateral U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks were scheduled for November 10–11 in the United Arab Emirates.
- The Kremlin said no concrete Putin-Erdogan meeting was planned, but one could be arranged quickly.
- Vladimir Medinsky will remain Russia's chief negotiator, Dmitry Peskov said.
Why it matters
The proposed meeting could establish a direct diplomatic channel involving Putin as negotiations continue, while Turkey positions itself as a facilitator of Russian-Ukrainian and trilateral diplomacy. Zelenskyy's willingness to meet Putin in Turkey would make Ankara's mediation more consequential, although the Kremlin's statement that no meeting is yet arranged limits expectations of an immediate summit.
What happened
Erdogan said on November 5 that he intended to speak with Putin about ending the war in Ukraine and examining Russia's role in the conflict. He spoke after meeting Zelenskyy in Istanbul on October 31. Zelenskyy said the two leaders discussed preparations for future U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks and the possibility of holding later negotiations in Turkey. He also said he was ready to meet Putin there if Turkey organized the meeting.
Erdogan added that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and other officials were consulting both sides about a possible meeting between Russian and Ukrainian representatives on Turkish territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were no concrete arrangements for an Erdogan-Putin conversation, although one could be organized quickly. Peskov also said Vladimir Medinsky would remain Russia's chief negotiator.
Separately, Steve Witkoff announced on November 3 that Ukrainian and Russian delegations would hold U.S.-mediated talks in the United Arab Emirates on November 10–11. The trilateral format was expected to focus on further steps toward peace. Zelenskyy had also spoken for 90 minutes on November 4 with U.S. presidential envoys Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage presents Erdogan's initiative as a diplomatic effort to end the war and highlights Zelenskyy's readiness to meet Putin on Turkish territory. It also emphasizes preparations for the U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks and the active involvement of Turkish officials.
How international sources describe it
International reporting frames Erdogan's plans as a diplomatic initiative following his meeting with Zelenskyy, with Turkey assuming a mediating role. It also records the Kremlin's position that no concrete Erdogan-Putin meeting had been arranged.
Where reporting differs
Erdogan said he intended to meet Putin, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were no concrete plans for their conversation, adding that it could be arranged quickly if needed.
Background
Erdogan and Zelenskyy met in Istanbul on October 31. Zelenskyy then held a 90-minute conversation with U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on November 4. The Institute for the Study of War said Vladimir Medinsky's leadership of Russia's delegation indicated that the Kremlin was not interested in good-faith negotiations and was prepared to continue the war. It also said Medinsky had led Russia's delegation at the previous trilateral talks in Geneva in February 2026 and used discussions of the war's alleged historical roots to delay negotiations.