Will Erdogan Engage with Putin and Trump for a Ukraine Summit?

Istanbul, July 26 (NationPress) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that he might engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump this week to assess the potential for a summit in Istanbul.

"In the approaching days -- possibly even within this week -- we will pursue additional dialogues with Putin and also with Trump," he informed the press in Istanbul on Friday.

"We will explore if we can unite these leaders in Istanbul. That is our objective."

Erdogan mentioned that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conducted separate discussions with the Russian and Ukrainian delegations prior to the commencement of the third round of talks concerning the Ukraine crisis, which took place in Istanbul on Wednesday, as reported by Xinhua.

He added that, before arriving in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation also met with him in Ankara.

During the peace negotiations, both parties agreed on an additional prisoner exchange; however, they encountered disagreements regarding ceasefire conditions and the possibility of a presidential summit.

The Ukrainian delegation proposed a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "by the end of August," expressing that the involvement of Trump and Erdogan would be "particularly advantageous."

The Russian delegation stated that such a meeting is not under consideration until certain processes are finalized.

Ukraine concluded its third round of direct dialogues with Russia on Wednesday by suggesting a "leaders' summit" by the end of August, featuring Zelensky, Putin, Erdogan, and Trump.

The proposed summit is expected to occur between Zelensky and Putin, which would include the "involvement" of the US and Turkish Presidents, as stated by Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky's office.

Zelensky reiterated on Tuesday his willingness to meet with Putin to negotiate an end to the conflict, although Putin has previously dismissed such offers.

Ukraine made this proposal in Turkey during the latest round of discussions, which yielded limited outcomes and left both delegations feeling distanced from an agreement on a ceasefire or resolution to the war.

"It is evident that Russia is still unprepared to conclude the war — yet there remains time to rethink and bring an end to this chaos," Yermak stated.

He remarked that progress was achieved on humanitarian matters, including prisoner exchanges and the retrieval of Ukrainian children who were abducted during the conflict.

Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, informed reporters following the discussions that "we have not yet made progress" regarding a ceasefire, according to various media outlets.

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, echoed similar sentiments post-meeting.

“The positions remain significantly divergent,” he stated, as reported by news outlets.

Both nations have convened for two rounds of peace discussions in Istanbul to date -- on May 16 and June 2 -- resulting in the exchange of thousands of prisoners, yet minimal advancements have been made towards a ceasefire agreement.

Since the last talks, which occurred nearly two months ago, Russia released a memo outlining prerequisites for a ceasefire, including demands for Ukraine's military disarmament and acknowledgment of Russia's annexation of four regions in Ukraine that were seized since the invasion commenced in 2022, which the Russian military has struggled to maintain.

Yermak articulated in his statement on Wednesday that Ukraine, during the latest discussions, "clearly defined its priorities: a ceasefire, genuine tranquility along the entire frontline, and a complete cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure. This is the starting point for authentic peace."

Trump has advocated for peace in the region and has increasingly criticized Putin in recent weeks, declaring in a recent interview with the BBC that he feels "disappointed" with the Kremlin's leader but is not "finished with him".

Trump announced last week that the US facilitated a deal to dispatch more weapons to Ukraine, with the costs being covered by NATO allies in Europe who previously committed to boosting their defense spending.

Trump also cautioned Putin that he would impose new sanctions on Russia and other nations purchasing Moscow's exports if a ceasefire is not established within 50 days.

Russia has remained steadfast in its demands and has continued to bombard Ukraine, launching drones and missile strikes that have targeted numerous cities.