Erdoğan Meets Putin: Ankara Pushes for Istanbul Peace Process
Meeting with Putin in Turkmenistan, President Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkiye's readiness to support diplomatic initiatives to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
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WISE NEWS PRESS / ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN — Dec. 12, 2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Turkmen capital regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating that Ankara is ready to provide concrete support for diplomatic initiatives, specifically the "Istanbul Process."
Held after the "International Peace and Security Forum," the meeting focused heavily on negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine war and bilateral relations. The high-level encounter comes at a time when diplomatic traffic involving Ankara, Moscow, and Kyiv has intensified.
High-level delegation in Ashgabat
According to the Turkish Directorate of Communications, the meeting took place at the hotel where President Erdoğan was staying. The Turkish delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, and Head of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) İbrahim Kalın.
Other key officials present were Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Chief Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç, and AK Party Deputy Chairman Halit Yerebakan. The presence of energy and intelligence chiefs suggests a comprehensive agenda beyond standard diplomacy.
Reviving the 'Istanbul Process'
In his speech at the forum earlier in the day, President Erdoğan emphasized Turkiye's efforts to create a "belt of peace and security" in the region. He reiterated that ending the war between Russia and Ukraine is a sincere wish for Ankara.
Erdoğan highlighted the need to return to the negotiation table, stating:
"It is our most sincere wish that the ongoing war between our northern neighbors, Russia and Ukraine, with whom we have relations based on ancient ties and mutual respect, comes to an end. We are ready to give concrete support to diplomatic initiatives aimed at ceasefire and peace, primarily the Istanbul Process."
The "Istanbul Process" refers to the direct peace talks hosted by Turkiye in Istanbul following the start of the invasion. While a full ceasefire was not achieved, the format previously facilitated breakthroughs such as prisoner exchanges.
Context of Trump's plan and recent contacts
The meeting coincides with discussions surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump's 28-point plan for Ukraine. Erdoğan had previously commented that a deal is possible if the legitimate security needs of both parties are met. The Kremlin reported that during the meeting, Putin indicated that the U.S. proposals could form a basis for a solution.
This summit follows a busy month of diplomacy for Erdoğan, who spoke with Putin by phone on November 24 and hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkiye just days prior.
