Erdogan Says Istanbul Delegations from Russia, Ukraine Fully Competent; Discusses Ceasefire and Trade with Trump

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking after the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in The Hague, firmly backed the legitimacy of the recent Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations held in Istanbul. 

He called the delegations from both countries "fully representative and competent," dismissing doubts raised in the West about the seriousness of the talks.

Via: Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications 

“Those sent to Istanbul had full authority. The negotiations were successfully conducted, and our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan engaged with them. The outcome was very good,” Erdoğan said in remarks aired by TRT.

His comments appeared aimed at countering skepticism from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who had earlier questioned whether the Istanbul talks were a “serious” diplomatic initiative.

On the sidelines of the summit, Erdoğan also held a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The two leaders discussed regional stability and bilateral ties, placing particular emphasis on expanding cooperation in defense and investment sectors. Erdoğan underscored the goal of reaching a $100 billion trade volume between Türkiye and the U.S., noting that enhanced defense industry collaboration could help achieve that target.

Erdoğan welcomed the recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran—an initiative credited to President Trump—and expressed hope that it would hold. He also stressed the need for sustained diplomatic engagement to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Both leaders reaffirmed their nations’ roles as key pillars of NATO and agreed on the importance of reinforcing the alliance’s deterrence posture amid a shifting global security landscape.