President Trump spoke Monday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he and Erdoğan had a “very good and productive telephone conversation” that covered the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in Syria and Gaza.
Trump said he was invited to visit Turkey and extended an invitation for Erdoğan to come to Washington.
“In any event, I look forward to working with President Erdoğan on getting the ridiculous, but deadly, War between Russia and Ukraine ended — NOW!” Trump posted.
Turkey is a NATO member that has attempted to maintain relations with both Ukraine and Russia throughout the conflict.
Trump has in recent days continued to express optimism there could be a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine. Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022 after amassing troops along the border.
At the same time, Trump and other officials have acknowledged that the U.S. may step back from its efforts to broker a ceasefire if there is no progress.
“I do believe we’re closer with one party. And maybe not as close with the other, but we’ll have to see,” Trump said in an interview with “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. “Five thousand soldiers a week on average, are dying. They’re not American soldiers. But I want to solve the problem.”