Zelenskyy meets Erdogan in Ankara ahead of peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened in Ankara, as reported by Türkiye's Anadolu state news agency. The meeting precedes possible peace negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian representatives scheduled to take place in Istanbul.

During his arrival remarks, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Erdogan for facilitating direct talks. Following Russia's proposal to hold peace discussions in Türkiye, Zelensky extended an invitation for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who instead appointed aide Vladimir Medinsky to lead the delegation. 

Zelenskyy and Erdogan last met in February to explore Türkiye's involvement in a potential peacekeeping force post-ceasefire. Erdogan, maintaining relations with both Kyiv and Moscow throughout the conflict, has positioned Türkiye as a mediator, having previously hosted unsuccessful peace talks in Istanbul in 2022. 

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