Citing a source in the Turkish government, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to offer himself once again as a mediator to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. (He had served in this role with some success in March 2022, before British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened with Kiev to sabotage the process.) It is expected that Erdogan will move forward with his plans at his upcoming face-to-face meeting with Russia’s President Putin. Erdogan’s office had stated on Aug. 2 that Putin would visit Erdogan shortly, and the Kremlin confirmed as much, though the date had not yet been set.
Erdogan plans, according to RIA Novosti, to reiterate “the thesis that there will be no winners in the war, and no losers in the peace process.” A ceasefire is to be called, followed by negotiations. The source explained that Erdogan was “the only world leader” who enjoys the “sincere trust” of both Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. He has kept in regular touch with both.
