Ukraine is preparing for trilateral talks with the US and Russia in the first half of November, with Turkey being considered as one of the possible venues. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this statement on 31 October following talks with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul. The parties also agreed to work towards securing the Black Sea grain corridor, discussed joint defence projects and an increase in the supply of energy equipment to Ukraine as early as next week.
Briefly about the main points
- Ukraine is preparing for trilateral talks with the US and Russia in November.
- One possible meeting place is Turkey.
- Zelenskyy and Erdoğan have agreed to work on the grain corridor.
- Ukraine is expecting further generators and power-generating equipment next week.
- Countries are preparing joint defence and industrial projects.
Trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia may take place in Turkey
One of the main topics of the meeting Zelensky and Erdogan Preparations for a new round of peace talks are now under way.
According to the Ukrainian president, Kyiv is counting on tripartite format with the participation of representatives from Ukraine, the United States and Russia, as early as the first half of November.
During the talks in Istanbul, the leaders considered the possibility of holding such a meeting on Turkish territory and involving Ankara in the diplomatic process.
Zelenskyy also emphasised the need for European partners to be involved, as the issue of bringing the war to an end directly affects the security of the entire continent.
However, the final venue, date and composition of the delegations have not yet been announced. Turkey remains one of the possible venues, alongside other options previously discussed by Ukraine and the US.
Zelenskyy emphasised that the diplomatic process must be accompanied by by stepping up the pressure towards Moscow. In his view, Russia must receive clear signals that support for Ukraine will continue, and that there is no alternative to ending the war.
Erdogan, for his part, stated that Turkey was prepared to make every possible effort to achieve peace. He welcomed the intensification of diplomatic initiatives involving the US President Donald Trump.
The Turkish leader also pointed out that previous talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations on Turkish soil had already yielded practical results.
Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to work on a grain corridor
The presidents devoted a significant part of their talks to security in the Black Sea. The meeting took place on a symbolic date — International Black Sea Day, which is observed on 31 October.
Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and Turkey had agreed to work together on the operation of the Black Sea grain corridor. The main objective is to ensure a stable and safe navigation, which is essential for the export of Ukrainian agricultural produce.
The President of Ukraine emphasised that this issue is important not only for the Ukrainian economy, but also for international food security.
Erdogan also expressed concern at the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea region. He said that the rise in attacks on civilian vessels and other actions that are heightening tensions at sea pose a threat to all states in the region.
The Turkish President described attacks on civilian shipping unacceptable, regardless of who carries them out. He stated that Ankara would continue to engage with the parties involved in order to reach agreements on maritime security.
Turkey had already played a key role in the establishment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2022. At that time, with the mediation of Ankara and the UN, it was possible to organise the export of Ukrainian grain via seaports despite the full-scale war.
The current arrangement means that work on the safety of grain shipments will continue, but does not indicate that a new agreement has been concluded with Russia or that the previous mechanism has been automatically reinstated.
Turkey is set to increase its energy support for Ukraine
Another practical outcome of the talks was a discussion on assistance for the Ukrainian power grid, which is under systematic attack from Russia.
Zelenskyy reported on meetings with representatives of Turkish energy companies and an expected increase in supplies of generators and other equipment as early as next week.
The Ukrainian President emphasised that cooperation in the energy sector is of particular importance due to damage to power stations, substations and other critical infrastructure.
The parties discussed not only emergency aid but also long-term energy projects that could strengthen both countries. However, the presidents did not specify the exact number of generators, the cost of the equipment or the final delivery schedule.
Ukraine and Turkey are preparing joint defence projects
Zelenskyy and Erdoğan paid particular attention to cooperation in the defence industry. The Ukrainian President stated that both countries have significant potential for establishing joint industrial projects, particularly in the defence industry. According to him, cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey in the defence, manufacturing and technology sectors will continue to expand.
Turkey is already an important partner for Ukraine in the field of defence technology. In particular, the two countries have a track record of cooperation in the production of unmanned systems and in the aviation industry.
During the recent meeting, the parties discussed the further development of joint projects, although they did not disclose any details of the new production programmes publicly.
There are plans to increase trade between Ukraine and Turkey to $10 billion
Economic cooperation became another key point in the negotiations.
Erdogan stated that the entry into force of the free trade agreement on 1 October opens up new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
The Turkish President reiterated the shared goal of increasing bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars.
Zelenskyy also emphasised that the full operation of maritime trade routes would facilitate the implementation of economic agreements.
As well as trade, the presidents discussed cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, energy and industry.
Erdogan singled out Turkish companies that continued to operate in Ukraine during the war. He expressed the hope that, once the hostilities had ended, they would help rebuild Ukrainian towns and infrastructure.
Zelenskyy reported that meetings between representatives of the Ukrainian and Turkish business communities had also taken place in Istanbul. The President emphasised the need to implement the agreements reached at the highest level as soon as possible.
Erdogan has reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity
During a joint statement, the Turkish President once again reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He emphasised that Ankara regards Ukraine as a strategic partner and is prepared to continue to facilitate a diplomatic resolution to the war.
Zelenskyy thanked Erdoğan for his support for the humanitarian operation in the occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region. According to the Ukrainian president, this operation demonstrates that limited steps can be taken to ease tensions, provided that Russia is compelled to honour the relevant agreements.
Erdogan expressed his belief that agreements on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea could also contribute to the wider diplomatic process.
At present, the main areas of practical cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey remain the organisation of diplomatic meetings, the security of maritime trade, energy support and the development of joint production.
