This was reported by the state news agency Anadolu. “This is a last election for me, according to the mandate given by the law, this is my last election,” Erdogan said. “The result will be the passing of a legacy to my siblings who will come after me,” he was quoted as saying by Anadolu.
Erdogan, Turkey’s most successful politician today, has led the country for more than two decades. The 70-year-old, who has won more than a dozen elections since 2002, was re-elected to a five-year term in presidential elections held in May 2023.
Russian-Ukrainian peace summit
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered to host peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “We are ready to host a peace summit at which Russia is also represented,” Erdogan said on Friday after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul. Turkey supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its “strategic partner, Ukraine,” Erdogan continued.
At the same time, she is committed to ensuring that this war ends and “a just peace” is negotiated. Erdogan said he spoke to Zelensky about issues such as the security of ports and shipping in the Black Sea, food safety and the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. He believes that Turkey can help make progress on these issues.
Zelenskyj arrived in Istanbul in the afternoon with his Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. NATO member Turkey has maintained its contacts with both Ukraine and Russia since the start of the war. On the one hand, Ankara supplies combat drones to Kiev, on the other hand, it maintains trade relations with Moscow and sources a large part of its energy sources from Russia.
