Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone, addressing efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict and restore stability in Syria, according to a statement from Erdogan’s office on Sunday.

Erdogan expressed Turkey’s backing for Trump’s “decisive and direct initiatives” to bring an end to the war and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to pursuing a “just and lasting peace.”

Regarding Syria, Erdogan emphasized the need for joint efforts to lift sanctions, arguing that such measures would help stabilize the country, facilitate governance under its new administration, and support the voluntary return of displaced Syrians.

The statement also underscored Turkey’s expectation that the U.S. take steps to address Ankara’s security concerns, particularly in counterterrorism efforts. Turkey has long objected to Washington’s alliance with a Syrian Kurdish militia in the fight against ISIS, viewing the group as a terrorist organization and a betrayal of NATO partnership.

Additionally, Erdogan called for the removal of CAATSA sanctions, the completion of Turkey’s F-16 acquisition, and its reintegration into the F-35 fighter jet program to strengthen defense ties between the two nations. Turkey had been expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russian S-400 missile defense systems, which also led to U.S. sanctions.