Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he held what he described as a “very good and productive” phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders reportedly touched on a wide array of issues, including the war in Ukraine, the crisis in Gaza, and the situation in Syria. Taking to social media, Trump shared that Erdogan had invited him to visit Turkey in the future, and that Erdogan himself planned to visit Washington, though no firm dates were mentioned.
A statement released by the Turkish presidency confirmed Erdogan’s invitation to Trump, highlighting the warm diplomatic tone between the two. Trump, who often praised his ties with Erdogan during his first term in the White House, emphasized that both nations were prepared to work together to help bring an end to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. “I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous but deadly war between Russia and Ukraine ended — NOW!” Trump declared online. Turkey’s government echoed this sentiment, expressing appreciation for U.S. efforts to mediate a resolution.
Despite the optimistic statements, neither side provided details about what specific role Turkey might play in advancing peace in Ukraine, where diplomatic efforts have largely stalled. Trump has promised on the campaign trail that he could bring the conflict to a swift close if re-elected, and since returning to office in January, he has pushed Ukraine to consider a ceasefire while softening U.S. pressure on Russia. Though Trump has previously laid much of the blame on Kyiv for prolonging the war, he has recently sharpened his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, questioning Moscow’s seriousness about peace talks.
The Turkish readout of the call also revealed that Erdogan raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressing the importance of ensuring uninterrupted aid deliveries to the region. Erdogan reaffirmed Ankara’s willingness to help broker a ceasefire and support long-term peace efforts in Gaza.
In addition to discussing Ukraine and Gaza, Erdogan also urged Trump to consider easing sanctions on Syria, pointing to Turkey’s efforts to uphold the country’s territorial integrity. This marks yet another complex diplomatic challenge the two leaders may try to navigate in the coming months.
While the tone of the call was described as positive on both sides, the real test will be whether these diplomatic gestures lead to any concrete breakthroughs — particularly as Trump seeks to position himself as a dealmaker on the global stage ahead of upcoming elections.