Ankara — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call on Wednesday, focusing on ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine and addressing wider regional crises, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
The discussion came in the wake of U.S.-hosted summits on Ukraine, where President Donald Trump first met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska before receiving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders in Washington earlier this week.
Erdoğan told Macron that Türkiye continues its diplomatic push to secure what he called a “just peace” in Ukraine. He noted that Ankara is closely monitoring developments from both meetings and reiterated that Türkiye stands ready to host initiatives aimed at facilitating direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
Beyond Ukraine, the two leaders also exchanged views on bilateral ties and the escalating crisis in Gaza. Erdoğan described the situation as a “great humanitarian catastrophe,” stressing that it is essential to halt what he called Israel’s “reckless” actions that risk accelerating the occupation of Gaza. He underlined that Ankara is actively working to broker a ceasefire.
The call underscored Ankara’s attempt to balance relations with both Western allies and Russia while positioning Türkiye as a potential mediator in two of the world’s most volatile conflicts. Macron, for his part, welcomed continued dialogue, with both leaders agreeing to remain in close contact on Ukraine, Gaza, and other pressing international issues.
As global powers search for openings to ease hostilities, Türkiye’s willingness to host peace initiatives may become an increasingly pivotal factor in shaping the path toward negotiations.
