Putin and Erdoğan Discuss US Proposal to End Ukraine War

The office of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Monday that he informed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Ankara would contribute to any diplomatic effort to facilitate direct communication between Russia and Ukraine and achieve a "just and lasting" peace.

Separately, the Kremlin stated that the Russian and Turkish presidents discussed an American proposal to end the war in Ukraine.

1. Russian Stance on the US Proposal

• Conceptual Alignment: Putin stated that the American proposals, "in their revised format," align with the discussions held at the Russian-American summit in Alaska (between Putin and Donald Trump in August), and "could, in principle, serve as a basis for a final peaceful resolution."

• Focus on Diplomacy: The Kremlin stressed that the Russian side's interest lies in a "political and diplomatic resolution to the Ukrainian crisis."

2. Turkey’s Role and Zelensky’s Support for Negotiations

• Erdoğan's Offer: Erdoğan pledged to support the peace process between Kyiv and Moscow by all means and proposed holding new talks in Istanbul, which previously hosted three rounds of peace discussions.

• Zelensky's Qualified Welcome: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the progress made following the Geneva talks between Ukrainian, European, and US officials.

  • "Much Greater Efforts": Zelensky stressed the need for "much greater efforts" to achieve "real peace" with Russia, noting that steps coordinated with the US side succeeded in "including highly sensitive points."

3. Updates on the US-Ukrainian Peace Plan

• Revised Framework: The US and Ukrainian sides announced in a joint statement that they had drafted a "revised framework for peace" after talks in Geneva on Sunday, though they provided no details.

• White House Position: The White House stated separately that the Ukrainian delegation confirmed the plan "reflects their national interests" and "addresses their core strategic requirements."

• Outstanding Issues: It remains unclear how the updated plan will address key issues, such as guaranteeing Ukraine's security against continuous threats from Russia.