Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in a phone call on Saturday that the conflict in the Middle East had created a “geostrategic impasse,” according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.
Erdoğan said the process set in motion by the intervention against Iran had led to a deadlock with broad regional implications and urged the international community to step up efforts to end the fighting.
The statement said Turkey has been working to help end the hostilities, including through contacts involving Pakistan and Egypt.
Erdoğan also said Ankara was continuing efforts to help secure a peaceful outcome in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
His call with Rutte came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in İstanbul for talks with Erdoğan. A senior Ukrainian official told Agence France-Presse that the talks would cover not only drone interceptors but security cooperation more broadly. The Turkish presidency said the meeting would focus on efforts toward a ceasefire and a lasting solution.
© Agence France-Presse