Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis believes Turkey can help bring peace to Ukraine, especially as U.S. President Trump is preoccupied with Iran and Putin does not want to sit down with anyone from Europe.

Leaders from Europe and Canada arrived at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, Armenia, over the weekend, with both Iran and Ukraine as the primary topics of importance for talks to be held starting today.

Talks to bring peace to Ukraine have stalled, especially with the United States now busy in the Middle East. “It is in the interest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to have peace in Ukraine. The Czech Republic also wants this. However, the problem at the moment is who will mediate between the warring parties,” the Mandiner news portal, citing the Czech news agency, quoted Babis as saying after he arrived in Yerevan.

Trump may currently be preoccupied with the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Babis continued, but there is still a chance to establish peace in Ukraine. According to the Czech PM, leaders of Central Asian countries or the Turkish president could also be involved in the peace talks. 

“It is clear that Ukraine is unlikely to accept the conditions that President Putin envisions. However, negotiations have already taken place. They should continue, but for now they are waiting for the American side to join them,” the Czech news agency quoted Babis as saying. 

Babies also posted on X about his pre-summit talks with Zelensky, where they discussed post-war reconstruction and further opportunities for Czech companies once peace is achieved.

According to Babis, since Russia does not accept the involvement of European leaders in resolving the conflict, the Organization of Turkic States could possibly step in. He believes that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains good relations with Trump, while the leaders of Central Asian countries maintain good relations with both Moscow and Washington, effectively serving as acceptable replacements to the U.S. while DC has its hands full with the ongoing crisis in Iran.