**Erdogan Urges Zelenskyy to Hold Direct Talks with Putin and Trump**
As the world waits for a planned round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made an urgent call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Erdogan wants Ukraine and Russia to resume presidential negotiations, but Kyiv has not yet confirmed its participation.
According to Erdogan’s office, the Turkish president spoke with Zelenskyy by phone this week, urging direct talks between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. Erdogan believes that these talks would benefit the peace process and should take place “without further delay.” Zelenskyy confirmed the call on social media, saying they discussed the conditions under which Ukraine would agree to attend the Istanbul talks.
**Zelenskyy Presses for Transparency**
Zelenskyy has been pushing for transparency from Russia ahead of any peace talks. He wants Moscow to publish its proposed peace terms in advance. This demand has not been met by the Kremlin, and Kyiv has not formally confirmed it will attend the June 2 talks.
Erdogan echoed Zelenskyy’s view, saying that a ceasefire must be the basis for further progress toward peace. The Turkish president also emphasized the need for strong delegations from both sides in the upcoming talks.
**A Difficult Path to Istanbul**
The path ahead is uncertain. Ukraine has not formally confirmed its participation in the Istanbul talks, and officials in Kyiv say they remain open to negotiations in any format. Russia’s refusal to publish its negotiating terms before the talks makes it difficult for Zelenskyy to agree to participate.
The BRICS alliance, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, may soon welcome Turkey into its fold. This reflects Ankara’s ambition to diversify its alliances beyond traditional Western partners while maintaining its NATO membership.
**A Four-Party Summit?**
Zelenskyy has previously proposed a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Now, he suggests the possibility of a four-party summit involving the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and the United States. This could be an attempt to bring more parties to the table and increase pressure on Russia.
As we await the Istanbul talks, one thing is clear: the path to peace in Ukraine will be difficult and fraught with challenges. The international community watches closely as these negotiations unfold.
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