U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during which the two leaders discussed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and the future of Syria.
Posting to his Truth Social account, Trump stated: “I look forward to working with President Erdoğan to help bring an end to the absurd but deadly war between Russia and Ukraine—immediately!”
The president added that he had accepted an invitation to visit Turkey and extended a reciprocal invitation for Erdoğan to come to Washington, signaling a desire to renew bilateral ties with Ankara under a potential second Trump administration.
According to reports from Turkish media and statements by Turkish officials, President Erdoğan expressed support for Trump’s push to end the Ukraine conflict and pledged Turkey’s assistance in delivering humanitarian aid and working toward a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.
Erdoğan also stressed the need for international cooperation to lift sanctions on Syria to stabilize the country and allow for the return of refugees. He highlighted Turkey’s continued role as a mediator in regional conflicts and its importance as a NATO member engaged in multilateral diplomacy.
The two leaders reportedly revisited the long-standing issue of Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program. Erdoğan expressed interest in rejoining the program and easing defense-related U.S. sanctions imposed after Turkey’s acquisition of Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems.
Trump is said to be open to restarting the F-35 partnership if Turkey agrees to either decommission the S-400 systems or transfer them under U.S. supervision—although no official commitments have been made.
The conversation also revived speculation about Turkey’s role as a potential intermediary in future peace negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the West. Turkey has previously hosted rounds of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations and continues to position itself as a neutral yet influential actor in the region.
In past collaborations, Trump and Erdoğan worked closely on issues including the 2018 release of American pastor Andrew Brunson from a Turkish prison—an event that briefly reshaped U.S.-Turkey relations.
Now, with Trump eyeing a political return and Erdoğan seeking to cement Turkey’s status as a global diplomatic broker, the potential for joint peace efforts in Ukraine appears to be back on the table.
