In brief

• Zelensky is making a working visit to Istanbul on October 31 at Erdogan's invitation, with Black Sea security and Russia's war against Ukraine heading the agenda.
• Erdogan recently called Putin about the worsening Black Sea situation, where Russian drones have struck several merchant ships.
• Zelensky said Kyiv is preparing a Ukraine-US-Russia format for the first half of November and discussed with Erdogan other options, including talks on Turkish soil.
• The visit follows an October 28 phone call between Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump, in which Erdogan said Türkiye was ready to contribute to settlement efforts.

Working visit announced by Ankara

The Turkish Presidency has confirmed that Zelensky will travel to Türkiye on October 31, 2026, at Erdogan's invitation (Zelensky to visit Türkiye on October 31, Turkish Presidency announces – Ukrinform). Burhanettin Duran, head of the Presidency's Communications Directorate, made the announcement in a post on X (Zelensky to Visit Türkiye on October 31 for Talks With Erdogan · Clash Report – clashreport.com). The meeting is scheduled for Istanbul.

Agenda: Black Sea and the war

According to Ankara, the two leaders will look at ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and will also review regional and international developments, with Russia's war against Ukraine and security in the Black Sea at the top of the list. Erdogan had recently phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to raise the deteriorating situation in the Black Sea, where Russian drones have hit several merchant ships.

Zelensky's remarks in Istanbul

On arrival, Zelensky said he had landed in Istanbul with his delegation and described talks with Erdogan as ahead, covering the protection of Ukrainians, bilateral ties and shipping in the Black Sea. He added that a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was also on the schedule (Zelensky arrives in Istanbul – Ukrinform). Afterward, he said Türkiye supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that the two presidents had explored ideas that could help secure navigation and normalize conditions in the Black Sea region (Zelensky, Erdogan discuss ways to unblock Black Sea – Ukrinform).

Zelensky also said that Kyiv is getting ready for a three-way format bringing together Ukraine, the United States and Russia, planned for the first half of November. He and Erdogan, he added, had looked at that option alongside other scenarios that would bring in Türkiye, Europe and further partners, among them the prospect of a meeting on Turkish soil (Zelensky, Erdogan discuss possibility of holding peace talks in Türkiye – Ukrinform).

Context: call with Trump

Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on October 28, two days before Ankara announced the visit. In the account of the Turkish Directorate of Communications, Erdogan told Trump that Türkiye was ready to do its part in pushing the efforts toward a settlement.

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• Zelensky Holds Istanbul Talks with Erdogan on Black Sea Shipping and Diplomacy