Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his support for American efforts to end the war in Ukraine during a phone call with former US President Donald Trump.
During the call, Erdogan emphasised the need to finalise the acquisition of US F-16 fighter jets and advance Turkey’s participation in the F-35 programme, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.
In December 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on Turkey’s defence industries following Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system. The last known contact between the two leaders was in November 2024, shortly after Trump’s electoral victory.
Erdogan stated his support for Trump’s determined measures to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and highlighted Turkey’s ongoing efforts for a just and lasting peace.
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Turkey, a member of NATO, has recently participated in meetings with European and British allies to support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the White House.
Erdogan also sought US assistance in the fight against terrorism, taking Turkey’s interests into account. The US has around 2,000 troops in northeastern Syria, near the Turkish border, supporting Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS.
Ankara criticises these Kurdish forces for including members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its western allies.
