Turkey‘s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is attempting to assert himself as a self-appointed mediator in major regional crises, aiming to counteract negative impressions following Donald Trump’s early moves in office, which appear to sideline Turkey.

During the three years of the war in Ukraine, Erdogan maintained a controversial personal relationship with Vladimir Putin—unusual for a NATO member—securing significant economic benefits for Turkey. He persistently portrayed himself as the sole mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, seeking to bring the war to an end.

However, Trump’s direct engagement in the Ukraine conflict from the outset of his term, choosing to negotiate directly with Moscow, was an unexpected development for Erdogan. Ankara was particularly displeased by the White House’s announcement that Saudi Arabia would host the first high-level U.S.-Russia meetings on Ukraine, with Riyadh likely serving as the venue for a future Trump-Putin summit.

This move undermined Turkey’s narrative that Erdogan would play a unique mediation role in the Ukraine peace process and that Turkey would host key diplomatic meetings. The development is part of Erdogan’s broader strategy to position Turkey as a regional power with an independent diplomatic role. Ankara had hoped that if Washington sought Turkish mediation, it would pave the way for restoring U.S.-Turkey relations on terms favorable to Ankara. In Turkish leadership’s view, mediation in Ukraine was the “key” to unlocking ties with the U.S. However, Trump’s choice of Saudi Arabia for crucial negotiations—without even consulting Ankara—undermined Turkey’s presumed advantage of direct access to both Putin and Zelensky.

Signs of Turkey’s sidelining had already emerged in previous weeks. Trump’s close ties with Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu, his approval of military aid to Israel, and a controversial plan to turn Gaza into a “Riviera” by displacing Palestinians have put Erdogan in a difficult position. While Erdogan wants to avoid a new rupture with the U.S. at the start of Trump’s presidency, he also cannot abandon his self-styled role as the “protector of Palestinians and leader of the Muslim world.”

Further adding to Turkey’s concerns, last week’s meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump in Washington reaffirmed support for the ambitious IMEC Corridor project, linking India to the Middle East, Israel, and Europe via Greece. Turkey opposes this initiative, seeing it as an attempt to bypass its strategic role.

In a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara—scheduled before the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh were announced—Erdogan sought to highlight Turkey’s suitability as a mediator in the Ukraine crisis, hoping to draw attention and win over Trump’s administration.

The Turkish president emphasized his past efforts to facilitate Russian-Ukrainian talks, Turkey’s role in prisoner exchanges, and the grain export deal, offering to host a new peace summit. However, the stark reality for Ankara is that no one has requested such mediation—something that raises deep concerns in Turkey.

Under pressure over the issue of Crimean Tatars, Erdogan reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, effectively contradicting earlier remarks by his foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, about the need for territorial concessions. This stance strengthens ties with Zelensky but distances Erdogan from Putin, who now needs him less. Putin may only seek Erdogan’s involvement when NATO faces critical internal decisions involving leaders sympathetic to Moscow.

Zelensky, in a difficult position in recent weeks, expressed gratitude to Erdogan, praised his past peace efforts, and, alongside the EU, called for Turkey to be included in negotiations on ending the war and securing Ukraine’s future security guarantees.

The front-page headlines in Turkish media—highlighting Erdogan’s claim that Turkey is the “ideal venue for peace talks”—reflect Ankara’s urgency to reassert itself in the diplomatic process and sway Trump’s decision.

Yet, in the ongoing regional rivalry between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Trump has clearly made his choice, presenting a new challenge and major test for Erdogan.