SHOTLIST:

ANKARA, TÜRKİYE (NOV. 19, 2025) (ANADOLU-ACCESS ALL)

1. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING:

"Mr. President, distinguished members of the delegation, esteemed members of the press, I greet you all with my most heartfelt sentiments and respect. I am very pleased to welcome President Zelenskyy once again to our country today. As you will recall, we hosted him twice earlier this year. In addition to our bilateral relations, we exchanged views on achieving a solution to the war in Ukraine.

Indeed, immediately after the President’s last visit in May, we hosted the first direct talks in more than three years between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations. During the three rounds of negotiations, some limited progress was achieved on humanitarian issues. In addition, views on a ceasefire, peace efforts, and military matters were addressed directly between the parties. We regard all these steps as valuable.

In our talks today, we also emphasized the need to continue the Istanbul process with a pragmatic and results-oriented approach. The Istanbul talks constitute an important milestone in diplomatic efforts at a time when the devastating effects of the (Russia-Ukraine) war are deepening. In particular, the increasing attacks on energy infrastructure and the resulting loss of life are causing irreparable destruction for both sides. We believe it would be beneficial for the Istanbul process to be reactivated with a broader scope that can address these increasingly urgent issues.

We expect all our partners who wish to see an end to the bloodshed in the region to adopt a constructive approach toward the Istanbul process.

Esteemed members of the press, during today’s discussions with my dear friend President Zelenskyy, we also evaluated bilateral matters. We reaffirmed our commitment to the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of our strategic partner Ukraine. In this regard, I would like to underline that our support for the Crimean Tatars, with whom we share a unique historical and cultural bond, will continue.

Despite all the difficulties of war, we aim to increase our bilateral trade volume to ten billion dollars. We aspire to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction with the support of Turkish entrepreneurs who have courageously continued their work without leaving the country under such difficult conditions.

Yet first and foremost, Türkiye is always ready to engage with Russia on proposals that would accelerate a ceasefire and pave the way for a just and lasting peace. In this context, we also attach importance to the involvement of our ally, the United States, in the process.

With these thoughts, as I conclude my remarks, I once again extend my condolences to the friendly people of Ukraine for those who lost their lives in the war. I now give the floor to the President for his statement." ANKARA, TÜRKİYE - NOV. 19, 2025: Türkiye believes it would be beneficial for the Istanbul process on the Ukraine war to be implemented with "a comprehensive framework that can address now-acute problems," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a Wednesday news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"The Istanbul talks constitute an important milestone in diplomatic efforts at a time when the devastating effects of the (Russia-Ukraine) war are deepening," said Erdogan, underlining the importance of the talks organized by Türkiye's mediating role to end the ongoing war.

Erdogan voiced Ankara's readiness to discuss with Russia "any proposals that would
accelerate a ceasefire, paving the way for just, lasting peace.”

Türkiye expects all partners who want to stop the bloodshed between Russia and Ukraine to take a constructive stance on the Istanbul process, he urged.