Powerful earthquake shakes Türkiye as Zelensky and Erdogan hold talks

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Türkiye on Thursday, shaking the capital Ankara as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.

The quake hit at 3:46pm local time in the Kulu district of Konya province, according to Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD). The tremor was also reportedly felt in the surrounding provinces.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas confirmed that the quake was felt in the capital, saying authorities were “closely monitoring developments.”

Zelensky, who had announced his intention to visit Türkiye following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that Moscow and Kiev participate in direct talks, has wrapped up his meeting with Erdogan at the presidential complex in Ankara, according to the latest media reports.

Last week, Putin proposed resuming direct dialogue to find a lasting settlement to the Ukraine conflict. The talks, which are expected to take place imminently in Istanbul, would mark the first such meeting between Russia and Ukraine since 2022, when the peace process was aborted by Kiev.

The Kremlin delegation has arrived in Istanbul. It includes presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin, and the head of Russia’s military intelligence, Igor Kostyukov.

Zelensky, who had previously said he would only talk directly with Putin, said later in the day on Thursday that he would send a delegation led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.