Erdogan to offer Putin Turkiye as Ukraine talks mediator

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to inform Russian President Vladimir Putin that Turkey is prepared to mediate talks regarding Ukraine during their scheduled meeting this week. This announcement will be made at the SCO summit, taking place on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The summit is expected to feature leaders from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Trilateral discussions involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia had ceased in February 2026 due to escalating tensions in Iran. In May 2026, Kremlin officials deemed the negotiation format unsuitable unless Ukraine withdrew its forces from Donbas region territories under its control. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy subsequently penned an open letter to Putin, advocating for a cessation of hostilities, a personal encounter, a prisoner exchange, and a reciprocal agreement.

Putin dismissed the letter as containing "elements of insolence" and refused to meet. Zelenskyy later reported positive discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On July 22, Zelenskyy conversed with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about revitalizing diplomatic efforts to cease Russia's war against Ukraine.

Rubio emphasized the need for innovative approaches to overcome the ongoing impasse. Kremlin sources suggest that Russia may not begin meaningful peace negotiations with Ukraine until at least February 2027. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence indicates that there are no indications that Russia intends to cease hostilities, projecting a prolonged conflict.