The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, has landed this Saturday in Istanbul on an official visit focused on trying to advance in conversations for a negotiated exit to the war that faces his country with Russia.
"I have arrived in Istanbul, where important meetings are scheduled. Substantial talks have been prepared with the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Zelenskiy himself explained in a message published on social media.
The head of the Ukrainian State has insisted on the need to "strengthen our relationship and achieve real protection for people's lives". He also calls for greater stability and security guarantees for "our Europe" and for the Middle East, recalling that "joint efforts always yield the best results".
From Ankara, the spokesman for the Turkish Presidency, Burhanettin Duran, has highlighted that the meetings scheduled in Istanbul "address bilateral issues with Ukraine, the regional situation and efforts to establish a ceasefire and a lasting solution, particularly within the framework of the Istanbul Process".
Zelensky's trip comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call on Friday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in which the Turkish leader "highlighted the importance of preventing interruptions to Turkey's initiative to achieve a peaceful end to the war between Russia and Ukraine".
In that conversation, Erdogan also demanded "all parties" to avoid "measures that could result in an escalation" and attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea, warning of their possible environmental consequences and on stability in the region.