Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed optimism about an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan.
Erdoğan said he also wishes to discuss a peace plan with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Peace is not far away; we can see it,” the Turkish leader said in a statement upon returning from the trip, Reuters reported.
During the talks, Erdoğan emphasized the importance of a limited ceasefire, particularly to protect energy infrastructure and ports.
He added that the Black Sea should not be viewed as a battlefield, as such a development would be detrimental to both Russia and Ukraine.
The Turkish president also stressed the need to ensure the safety of maritime routes for navigation.
Meanwhile, Russia is reported to have attacked two Ukrainian ports, damaging three vessels owned by Turkish companies, including a ship carrying food supplies—an incident that further underscores diplomatic efforts to safeguard maritime security and reduce tensions.
