Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held substantive talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday, focusing on security cooperation in Europe and the Middle East.

Zelenskiy arrived in the city earlier in the day, announcing on social media that important meetings were scheduled. "Substantive talks have been prepared with the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We are working to strengthen our partnership for the real protection of people's lives and the promotion of stability and security in our Europe, as well as in the Middle East," he wrote.

The discussions took place at Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus, a venue that has hosted previous Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Turkish officials described the agenda as centering on "efforts towards a ceasefire and a lasting solution, particularly within the framework of the Istanbul process." Zelenskiy is also scheduled to meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of most Orthodox churches, ahead of Orthodox Easter on April 12.

The visit comes a day after Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During that call, Erdogan urged an end to attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea and called for restraint to avoid escalation amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Putin accused Kyiv of attempting to target a key gas pipeline linking Russia and Turkey that supplies several European countries.

Turkey has positioned itself as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict, facilitating the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2022 and offering to host trilateral peace talks. Zelenskiy noted that the next such discussions depend on the security situation and diplomatic progress.

Zelenskiy's trip follows a week-long tour of Gulf states, where Ukraine signed 10-year defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Those pacts cover joint arms production, training, and weapons technology, including systems to secure maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz. Kyiv is sharing its Black Sea experience, maintaining exports despite a Russian blockade, to aid regional partners.

Kyiv has pushed for a truce over the Orthodox Easter holidays, including a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure. Russia has destroyed much of Ukraine's power generation since 2022, but seeks a permanent settlement rather than temporary pauses. The talks underscore Turkey's balancing act between Ukraine and Russia while addressing overlapping security challenges in the Black Sea and beyond.