ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – US President Donald Trump described his phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday as “very good and productive,” saying the two discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as developments in Syria among other things. Both leaders extended invitations to visit each other’s countries, though no dates were set. The call comes as Trump is expected to visit at least three Arab states in the region next week.
“I just had a very good and productive telephone conversation with the President of Turkey, Recep Erdoğan, concerning many subjects, including the war with Russia/Ukraine, all things Syria, Gaza, and more,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“The President invited me to go to Turkey at a future date and, likewise, he will be coming to Washington, D.C,” he added.
The US President further emphasized his close working relationship with Erdogan during his previous term, stating, “We worked together closely on numerous things,” and added that he looks forward to collaborating again - particularly on ending the “ridiculous, but deadly” Russia-Ukraine war.
The American President stated that he is looking forward to work with his Turkish counterpart on ending the “ridiculous, but deadly, war between Russia and Ukraine.”
Since returning to office in January, Trump has made ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict a key priority, engaging directly with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The war began in February 2022 when Russia launched a military campaign against Ukraine, citing the failure of the West to provide security guarantees that Ukraine would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Turkey has maintained a neutral stance, balancing its relations with both Russia and Ukraine, while also hosting diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict.
According to a readout from the Turkish presidency about the Monday phone call, Erdogan expressed his support and appreciation for Trump’s “approach toward ending wars” and “the efforts exerted to maintain the negotiation process with Iran and to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine.”
The Turkish presidency also reported that the two leaders discussed “bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues.” It cited Erdogan as stressing that Ankara “will continue to take steps to enhance the cooperation” with Washington “particularly in the defense industry.”
Erdogan was also quoted as inviting Trump to visit Turkey, though no date was announced. Notably, the US President is scheduled to visit the region next week, with stops expected in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
On Syria
The Turkish presidency further reported that the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in Syria.
Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on December 8 toppled the regime of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey, a longtime backer of Syrian opposition groups, has emerged as a major ally of the new leadership in Damascus, but has been on a collision course with Israel, the US’s closest ally in the region, which views the new rulers in Damascus as a threat.
Since Assad’s ouster, Israel has stepped up efforts to destroy Syria’s military stockpiles. Israeli forces have also entered a buffer zone east of the annexed Golan Heights, justifying the move as a security precaution amid Syria’s political instability.
In recent days, Israel has launched a series of airstrikes in Syria, including one near the presidential palace in Damascus. The escalation followed deadly clashes between security forces and armed groups linked to the new Syrian leadership, and armed fighters from Syria’s Druze community, whom Israel has pledged to protect.
The Turkish president on Sunday accused Israel of attempting to provoke a new conflict in Syria, stressing that Ankara will not allow that to happen.
In its Monday readout, the Turkish presidency further quoted Erdogan as telling the US President that Ankara is exerting “efforts to protect Syria’s territorial integrity and ensure its stability.” Erdogan also urged Trump to lift sanctions imposed on Damascus, saying, “The initiatives undertaken by the U.S. to ease the sanctions on Syria will contribute to the [stabilization] process.”
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced on Thursday confirmed that American officials met with Syrian interim authorities in New York.
The remarks came as Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani was in the city to attend a ceremony at which the new Syrian flag was raised at the United Nations headquarters.
Reuters then reported that Shaibani is expected to press officials in Washington for a clear roadmap toward permanent sanctions relief for Syria.
In March, the US gave Damascus a list of eight conditions for easing sanctions, including eliminating remaining chemical weapons and excluding foreign nationals from high-level government positions, Reuters added.
Damascus has since submitted a written response, claiming it had fulfilled most of the conditions and that others would require “mutual understandings” with Washington.
On Gaza
The two presidents also discussed the war in Gaza.
In October 2023, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel, killing over 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures. Israel responded with a large-scale offensive that, according to Gaza’s health ministry, has killed over 52,000 people, mostly civilians, and wounded more than 118,000 others.
Following 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire which went into effect in mid-January. However, on March 18, Israel launched new attacks on Gaza, killing more than 2,300 Palestinians and injuring more than 2500 others, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel says the offensive aims to secure the return of 59 hostages still held by Hamas.
Since early March, Israel has barred all supplies - including food, water and medicine - into Gaza, in a bid to pressure Hamas to renegotiate the ceasefire.
The Turkish presidency on Monday quoted Erdogan as reiterating to Trump Ankara’s readiness “to cooperate and provide all sorts of support to establish a ceasefire and achieve lasting peace.” He also highlighted the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressing that “uninterrupted humanitarian aid should be delivered to Gaza and this humanitarian tragedy should be brought to an end.
