The Turkish president, during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart in Istanbul, made statements referring to the Russian attack in Odessa.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message of support to Ukraine and Greece after the Russian missile attack in Odessa, a few meters away from where Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Volodymyr Zelensky visited on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian president visited Istanbul on Friday, where he had a meeting with Erdogan.
In the joint press conference, the Turkish president also referred to the missile attack in Odessa, a few meters away from where the Greek mission was located.
"I want to express my well wishes to Ukraine and Greece after the missile attack on the location where Zelensky and Mitsotakis were," he said.
During the press conference, the Turkish president mentioned Turkey's intention to become a mediator in the Russian-Ukrainian war and host a peace conference with Russia's participation.
“We are ready to host a peace summit that will include Russia. The Black Sea Initiative averted a global food crisis. Again, this agreement was made in this room. As before, we are ready to provide our best support to reach a new agreement," Erdogan stressed.
Zelensky, for his part, said any peace negotiations must align with a 10-point plan he has previously suggested, which includes food security, full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for the war, and security guarantees for Ukraine.
“Any proposals for settling this war must start with the formula proposed by the state defending its land and its people,” he said. “We want a fair peace.”
He also expressed hope that the possibility of reopening all Ukrainian ports, not only in Odessa but also in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, will be considered at the inaugural peace summit expected to be held this year in Switzerland.
Zelensky said on X (formerly Twitter) that agreements were reached on joint defence projects with Erdogan and Turkish companies. He said on Telegram that they also agreed to simplify trade and remove barriers to business.
Erdogan said the two discussed stability in the Black Sea shipping corridor and he reiterated Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s “territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.”
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