The Presidency of the Republic of Turkey on Sunday confirmed that Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump to discuss Ukraine, Syria, and defense cooperation through Turkey’s return to the F-16 and F-35 fighter jet programs.
The two leaders last had a phone conversation in November, when Erdogan congratulated Trump on his victory for a second term.
“The call addressed Türkiye-U.S. relations as well as regional and global matters. President Erdogan expressed his strong belief that Türkiye and the U.S., as two allies, will maintain in the new period their cooperation in solidarity and in a result-oriented and sincere manner,” the announcement read.
Erdogan called on the U.S. to lift the CAATSA sanctions on Turkey and finalise the F-16 fighter jets procurement process as well as Turkey’s re-participation in the F-35 program to develop defense industry cooperation between the two countries.
Turkey’s past purchase of Russian S-400 air defence systems prompted U.S. sanctions and the country’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet programme in 2019.
During the call, President Erdogan voiced support for U.S. President Trump’s steps of taking a direct and decisive initiative for the termination of the Russia-Ukraine war, and said that Turkey has been endeavoring for a just and lasting peace from the very beginning of the war and will continue to do so.
The Turkish president also said it is important for the two countries to contribute together to the lifting of sanctions on Syria in order to restore stability in the war-torn country, render the new administration functional and achieve normalization, which will enable displaced Syrians to return to their homeland.
Also on Sunday, White House envoy Steve Witkoff told the CNN that he expects a Trump-Putin call to take place this week, as part of Trump’s push to reach a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine agreed on Tuesday to the proposed 30-day ceasefire plan, but Putin presented a list of tough conditions for peace.
In an interview with Jake Tapper, Witkoff, who met with Putin on Thursday, opined that the Russian President accepts “Trump’s philosophy” of ending the war with Ukraine.
“Some sort of deal” between Russia and Ukraine could be reached within weeks is what President Trump believes, as teams of U.S. negotiators will set out to meet officials from both Ukraine and Russia during the following days, he added.
“I think the two presidents are going to have a really good and positive discussion this week,” Witkoff concluded.
