U.S. President Donald Trump stated during a press briefing on October 13, while traveling aboard his plane from Sharm el-Sheikh to Washington, that Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan could play a role in addressing the conflict in Ukraine. “Erdogan may be respected by Russia, I can’t say anything about Ukraine, but Putin respects him,” Trump said when asked if the Turkish leader could assist in resolving the Ukrainian crisis. The U.S. president also emphasized his positive relationship with Erdogan.
Trump previously praised Erdogan for his efforts in mediating the Gaza conflict during a meeting in Egypt, highlighting strong ties between the United States and Turkey. He described Erdogan as a “strong man.”
