Turkish president says he will call Russian counterpart to discuss Ukraine

ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he will have a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday to discuss a possible revival of the Black Sea grain corridor.

Speaking to the press Sunday on the margins of the G20 leaders' summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Erdogan said Türkiye’s efforts on the grain corridor are intended “to pave the way for peace."

"I believe that, if we can set this process in motion, it would be highly beneficial," he added.

Ankara first arranged Russia-Ukraine talks in March 2022, just weeks after the war began, and later brokered the Black Sea grain deal to facilitate exports of grain and fertilizers from Ukrainian ports during the war. Russia suspended its participation in July 2023.

On the ongoing Sudan conflict, the Turkish president said the Sudanese people want Ankara to play a role in resolving the issue, vowing: "Wherever there is trouble, we will be there."

"Whether in the Gulf, Sudan, or Somalia, we have been part of these efforts” and will continue expeditious efforts for peace, Erdogan added.

Türkiye "strongly" upholds the Palestinian cause without hesitation, said the president, adding: "We boldly defend the rights of the oppressed people of Gaza on every platform."

Noting that Ankara has sent Gazan people 103,000 tons of humanitarian aid, he said that they are doing everything they can to prevent a return to conflict.

"I stressed that mitigating the consequences of the destruction is a global responsibility and called for humanitarian aid and reconstruction support. While ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire, implementing the two-state solution is vital for a lasting resolution," he added.

Erdogan also hailed South Africa’s "unwavering" and "valuable" support for Palestine, saying it has shown an exemplary stance during the Gaza genocide, which so far has claimed 70,000 lives.

South Africa took a "courageous stance" by filing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, said Erdogan.

Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are perpetrators of genocide in Gaza, and it is clear that the war in Gaza is a genocide, he added.

On the G20's role, he said it is important for members since it provides leadership to the international community in the face of current and future global challenges.

Global peace is impossible without the establishment of an independent Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, he said.

Rainbow nation

Erdogan said his first visit to South Africa, which fully deserves to be called a "rainbow nation' due to its diverse cultural, religious, ethnic, and social fabric," was in 2005 as prime minister.

Recalling his visits in 2011 and 2018, Erdogan said "every visit left me with beautiful memories."

"Thanks to our joint efforts, our relations have reached places unimaginable 20 years ago. Recently, Deputy President Mashatile visited our country. We value the growing dialogue and contacts between Türkiye and South Africa both at government level and between the ANC (African National Congress) and our AK Party. We wish to strengthen this momentum in the future," he said.

Erdogan's attendance to summit

President Erdogan underlined Türkiye's active role in the G20 this year, focusing on climate change, sustainable development, and technological impacts. He stressed the importance of financial support for the least developed countries to meet the UN's 2030 goals.

He shared that Türkiye held bilateral talks with leaders from multiple countries and international organizations at the summit.

He highlighted the significance of G20 as a global platform and reiterated the commitment to Leaving No One Behind, promoting an inclusive, resilient global economy through multilateral cooperation.

Marking the 12th anniversary of MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye, and Australia), Erdogan said their joint reaffirmation of multilateralism and plans to deepen collaboration among these G20 member countries.

He concluded with hopes that the G20 discussions in Johannesburg would contribute to global economic and political stability and wished success to the upcoming US G20 presidency.