Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky met this Thursday afternoon at the Presidential Complex in the capital, Ankara.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting, attended by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Gler, Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin, and Presidential Advisor for Foreign and Security Policy Akif €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¡agatay Kili§, was closed to the public. Erdogan and Zelensky are expected to discuss the latest developments in the Russian-Ukrainian war from all aspects.

During the meetings, Erdogan is expected to emphasize Turkey’s position on the need to initiate a ceasefire and peace negotiations without delay. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in a press statement upon his arrival at Ankara Airport that his country would open the high-level phase of peace negotiations with Russia in Istanbul with a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after which next steps would be decided.

Zelensky indicated that Ukraine immediately agreed to begin the talks after receiving “positive signals” regarding direct negotiations. He confirmed that his country would attend the Istanbul negotiations with a high-level delegation that includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, presidential officials, and representatives of the military and intelligence services.

The Ukrainian president stated, “We are in contact with the American side, and I believe that they will also participate at a high level in the ongoing negotiations in Turkey.” Regarding the Russian position, Zelensky mentioned, “The level of the Russian delegation seems like a sham. We must first examine the powers granted to the Russian representatives, and then we will decide what to do.”