President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Istanbul on Saturday, Oct. 31, to discuss resuming tripartite diplomatic negotiations to end the war, measures to restore safe navigation across the Black Sea, and the prospect of hosting future peace talks in Turkey.
The talks focused on bringing Turkey and European partners into planned negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia in the first half of November. Zelensky said Kyiv is preparing for that three-way format while looking at ways to widen allied participation and to hold a meeting in Turkey.
“We are currently preparing for a trilateral format—Ukraine, the United States, Russia—in the first half of November,” Zelensky stated. He said they had discussed involving Turkey, Europe, and other partners, and the possibility of meeting in Turkey.
Erdogan reaffirmed Ankara’s readiness to facilitate a diplomatic settlement and welcomed renewed momentum around mediation. He said the two leaders had discussed recent efforts to secure peace in Ukraine and the security situation in the Black Sea, and that a binding agreement on safe navigation there could help a comprehensive and lasting peace.
“We note with great satisfaction that the initiative to end the war through diplomatic means has once again gained momentum,” Erdogan said.
The Istanbul meeting came amid instability on western Black Sea shipping routes after repeated drone strikes on commercial cargo ships navigating near Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters. Erdogan condemned strikes on commercial vessels and urged all parties to avoid further escalation.
“It is obvious that attacks on civilian vessels and actions that further escalate tensions in the Black Sea will benefit no one,” Erdogan said. He added that such attacks cannot be accepted regardless of who carries them out or what motives are offered, and called on all parties to act responsibly.
Zelensky said Russian aggression since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 has step by step made the Black Sea situation more difficult. He said Turkey consistently supports Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and steps that can protect safe navigation and restore normal living conditions in the region.
The leaders also reviewed the uninterrupted operation of Ukrainian agricultural export corridors and bilateral economic cooperation.