Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Türkiye this Saturday at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as announced on Friday by Türkiye’s Communications Director Burhanettin Duran. The meeting in Istanbul is expected to cover a broad range of topics, with a primary focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing regional and international developments, particularly Russia’s war against Ukraine and the state of security in the Black Sea.
This upcoming visit highlights Türkiye’s ongoing role as a key diplomatic interlocutor in efforts to bring an end to the conflict. Ankara has consistently sought to balance its diplomatic engagement while prioritizing the maintenance of maritime security and overall stability within the Black Sea region.
The two leaders most recently met in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During those discussions, they reviewed the operation of Ukraine’s maritime export corridor, Black Sea security, and potential avenues to enhance bilateral trade. At that time, President Zelenskyy signaled that Ukraine would be open to Türkiye hosting a trilateral leaders’ meeting dedicated to peace negotiations, a proposal for which President Erdogan had previously expressed his readiness.
Türkiye has a history of facilitating high-level contact between the warring parties, having previously hosted delegations from both Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. These efforts reflect the country's broader strategy of working toward a ceasefire and a lasting diplomatic settlement. The upcoming discussions in Istanbul will provide a further opportunity for both heads of state to assess the progress of the war, evaluate maritime security measures, and outline the future of Türkiye-Ukraine relations.
