In brief

• Erdogan says he plans to discuss ending the war in Ukraine with Vladimir Putin after meeting Zelensky.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is working with both sides on a possible meeting on Turkish territory.
• The Kremlin says no concrete plans for a Putin-Erdogan call exist yet.
• Working-level talks mediated by Washington are scheduled for Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11.

Erdogan plans call with Putin

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he intends to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin after his meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, Reuters reported (Ердоган збирається поговорити з Путіним про припинення війни в Україні – TSN) (Ердоган планує обговорити з Путіним завершення війни в Україні – UNIAN). Erdogan said he wants to discuss efforts aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine and to address what he called the Russian side of the issue (Після зустрічі з Зеленським Ердоган хоче поговорити з Путіним про завершення війни – Українська правда).

Ankara's mediation role

Erdogan told reporters on his flight back from South Korea that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and other officials are currently negotiating with both Ukraine and Russia about a possible meeting of the two sides on Turkish territory (Эрдоган заявил, что хочет поговорить с Путиным о прекращении войны РФ против Украины – NV). He said Turkey would keep doing what it can to open a path to peace and would work to prepare the Russian side for such a meeting.

Kremlin response

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there are currently no concrete plans for a Putin-Erdogan conversation, but that one could be arranged on short notice if needed.

Context of the Zelensky meeting

Zelensky and Erdogan met on October 31 in Istanbul, where they discussed preparing for future US-Ukraine-Russia talks and the possibility of further negotiation rounds. After the meeting, Erdogan said talks with the parties on restoring safe navigation in the Black Sea would continue, and he reaffirmed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

Read also

• Erdogan says Turkey ready to help restart Ukraine-Russia peace talks
• Zelensky Offers Turkey-Hosted Summit With Putin and Trump as Ceasefire Talks Take Shape
• Zelensky Holds Istanbul Talks with Erdogan on Black Sea Shipping and Diplomacy