Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara, Neriman Celal, praised Türkiye’s mediation efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Celal said Ankara’s efforts to bring the parties together in Istanbul and seek solutions were of great importance.
Celal thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the government, the Turkish people and the state. She said Türkiye’s initiatives had contributed to talks between the Russian and Ukrainian sides as well as prisoner exchanges, adding that the prisoner exchange carried out after the Istanbul negotiations had been made possible by these efforts.
Prisoner exchange agreements in Istanbul
During negotiations held in Istanbul on May 16, 2025, Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement on a comprehensive prisoner exchange.
During a new round of talks on June 2, 2025, the sides agreed to hand over the frozen remains of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers. They also reached an agreement to exchange prisoners who were seriously ill or wounded, as well as those under the age of 25.
At talks held in Istanbul in July 2025, the sides agreed to exchange another 1,200 people and release those who had been held for more than three years.
Celal calls for an end to the war
Celal claimed that Ukraine, Türkiye, European countries and the United States wanted to end the war, while Russia did not. The Ukrainian ambassador called on partner countries to increase pressure on Moscow.
Celal said Ukraine was ready to end the war and wanted peace more than anyone else. She said they wanted the war to end immediately if the necessary conditions were in place.
A new phase in Türkiye-Ukraine relations
Celal said relations between Türkiye and Ukraine had a history spanning more than five centuries, adding that Türkiye was among the first countries to recognize Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity.
Celal said Ankara was currently one of the countries providing the strongest support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. Noting that relations had progressed from friendship to a strategic partnership, Celal said ties would enter a new phase when the free trade agreement between Türkiye and Ukraine takes effect in July 2026.
