Ankara, August 22, 2025 — The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday held a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace process, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and bilateral relations.
In a social media statement, President Erdogan said he conveyed Türkiye’s satisfaction with last week’s meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, emphasizing that Ankara is closely monitoring the peace efforts.
“The humanitarian disaster in Gaza was undoubtedly one of the most important topics of our meeting,” Erdogan noted, underscoring his support for France’s recent decision to recognize the State of Palestine. He warned that Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza City pose a direct threat to global security.
The Turkish leader further stressed Türkiye’s commitment to advancing ties with France, particularly in the defense industry, expressing hope that enhanced cooperation will yield positive results for both nations.
Earlier, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate confirmed that the phone call took place at the request of the French side, during which the two leaders also reviewed a range of regional and global issues. Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s readiness to host “any initiatives aimed at peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.”
On the situation in Gaza, Erdogan said Türkiye is working to secure a ceasefire amid what he described as a “major humanitarian tragedy,” adding that “Israel’s escalating recklessness in pushing forward its occupation plan must be curbed.”
The two leaders agreed to continue their dialogue and discuss these issues in greater detail on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in New York this September.
