Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Istanbul on Saturday, 31 October, and met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for talks. Zelenskyy said the planned discussions would cover the partnership between their countries, diplomatic prospects for ending the Russia-Ukraine war and security at sea in the Black Sea.
Erdoğan received Zelenskyy at his Dolmabahçe residence in Istanbul, according to the Turkish president's press service, as reported by European Pravda. Members of the two delegations exchanged greetings before the presidents moved into a one-on-one meeting. The visit brought the Ukrainian leader to Türkiye following Erdoğan's recent telephone discussions with the Russian and US presidents.
The delegation talks include officials responsible for defence, foreign affairs and intelligence. Türkiye's participants include Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and İbrahim Kalın, who heads the country's National Intelligence Organisation. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Rustem Umierov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, are also taking part in the discussions between the delegations.
In outlining the agenda, Zelenskyy identified both bilateral cooperation and diplomacy concerning the war as subjects for his meeting with Erdoğan. He also said the two presidents would discuss maritime security in the Black Sea, an issue that has featured in the Turkish leader's other recent diplomatic contacts.
Earlier in October, Erdoğan spoke by telephone with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Security in the Black Sea was among the matters they discussed during that conversation. The subject is now also on the agenda for the Turkish president's meeting with Zelenskyy in Istanbul.
Erdoğan also discussed diplomacy between Ukraine and Russia in a telephone call with US President Donald Trump a few days before the Ukrainian president's visit. During that exchange, Erdoğan said Türkiye was prepared to help revive the diplomatic process between the two countries.
The Turkish president had previously described efforts by Ankara to restart grain exports through the Black Sea. He said Türkiye was increasing its diplomatic activity on that issue and had received a positive signal from Ukraine. Those efforts, along with his calls with Putin and Trump, preceded Saturday's talks with Zelenskyy, whose announced agenda combines relations with Türkiye, diplomacy over the war and Black Sea maritime security.
