Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold important bilateral talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
The meeting between the two leaders is scheduled for September 1, 2026 and will take place after the main events of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Erdoğan arrived in Bishkek to attend the SCO summit, which is being held on August 31 and September 1. The Turkish leader will also speak at the summit's expanded session and hold a number of bilateral meetings with leaders participating in the event.
Kremlin confirms Erdoğan-Putin meeting
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov announced the upcoming talks.
He said Vladimir Putin was scheduled to hold a separate meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The situation in the Black Sea region and the conflict in Ukraine will be among the main topics.
The sides also intend to discuss the further development of the Russian-Turkish partnership in trade and the economy.
The meeting will take place after the main events of the SCO summit in Bishkek conclude.
Ukraine to be one of the key topics
The situation around Ukraine and prospects for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict are expected to receive particular attention during Erdoğan and Putin's talks.
Throughout the conflict, Türkiye has maintained communication channels with both Moscow and Kyiv and has repeatedly offered its territory as a venue for direct talks.
Ankara has also declared its readiness to continue mediation efforts aimed at finding a diplomatic solution.
Russian officials have said that Russia remains open to talks on Ukraine in Türkiye. However, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on August 30 that Moscow currently sees no necessary conditions for resuming such a negotiation process.
Black Sea situation also on the agenda
The situation in the Black Sea basin will be another important topic of the talks.
The Black Sea is of strategic importance to both countries and remains one of the key regions in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Maritime security, port operations, food exports and energy infrastructure remain important issues for the entire region.
The situation is also particularly important for Türkiye because of its control over the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits and its position as one of the major Black Sea powers.
Trade and the economy also on the agenda
Erdoğan and Putin's talks will not be limited to international and regional crises.
According to Yuri Ushakov, the sides will discuss the further development of their bilateral partnership in trade and the economy.
Russia and Türkiye maintain close economic ties in energy, tourism, trade, investment and other areas.
Energy cooperation remains one of the key elements of Russian-Turkish relations.
Erdoğan in Bishkek for SCO summit
President Erdoğan is visiting Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov.
Turkish officials said Erdoğan would participate in the expanded session of the SCO summit on September 1 and address its participants. Bilateral talks with leaders of other countries are also scheduled during the visit.
Türkiye is not a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, but it has held dialogue partner status since 2012.
Ankara's participation in SCO events is viewed in the context of Türkiye's developing relations with Central Asian countries and the wider Eurasian region.
Focus turns to Erdoğan-Putin meeting
The SCO summit in Bishkek has brought together the leaders of Eurasia's largest states. Heads and representatives of Russia, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and other countries are taking part in the events.
For Türkiye, the Erdoğan-Putin talks will be one of the summit's most significant events.
The meeting between the two presidents is scheduled for September 1, after the SCO summit events conclude.
The statements that follow the talks will be particularly significant for the prospects of a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in the Black Sea and the further development of relations between Moscow and Ankara.
