On Friday, Turkey proposed hosting a high-level meeting involving the presidents of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, aiming to facilitate a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year.

As a NATO member maintaining strong ties with both Kyiv and Moscow, Turkey has positioned itself as a central mediator in US President Donald Trump’s initiative to broker peace in the region.

“We genuinely believe a summit between President Trump, President Putin, and President Zelensky—led by President Erdogan—could follow the first and second rounds of direct talks held in Istanbul,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a visit to Kyiv.

Fidan emphasized the urgency of the situation: “We can either turn a blind eye to the continuation of this conflict or strive for a lasting peace before the year ends. Hopes for a ceasefire and peace are growing.”

“Meaningful progress is achievable as long as dialogue continues,” he added. Fidan was scheduled to meet with President Zelensky later in the day, after earlier holding discussions with senior Russian officials in Moscow earlier this week.