Moscow/Ankara, July 18, 2025 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed his willingness to pursue a political and diplomatic solution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, during a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Kremlin announced late Thursday.
“During the discussion of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, Vladimir Putin confirmed his fundamental commitment to finding a political and diplomatic resolution,” the Kremlin’s statement read.
The Russian leader also thanked Erdoğan for Turkey’s continued willingness to facilitate direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, particularly on Turkish soil.
According to the Turkish presidency, the leaders discussed a range of topics, including bilateral relations, the situation in Ukraine and Syria, as well as broader regional and global developments.
President Erdoğan emphasized the importance of launching a third round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, reiterating that Turkey is ready to host negotiations in Istanbul once mutually agreed dates are determined.
Turkey played a key mediating role during the initial rounds of Russia–Ukraine talks in 2022, including hosting the first direct negotiations in Istanbul. However, talks stalled amid intensifying military operations and political deadlock.
While Western efforts at mediation have slowed, Ankara continues to position itself as a neutral venue and pragmatic broker in the conflict, maintaining open lines of communication with both Moscow and Kyiv.
Whether the renewed diplomatic rhetoric from Putin signals a shift toward de-escalation remains unclear. Nonetheless, the mention of Istanbul as a potential negotiation venue suggests that channels for dialogue remain open, even amid ongoing military activity.
