Bangladesh, July 25 -- Despite the lack of progress in the third round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appears undeterred. While Kyiv and Moscow remain entrenched in irreconcilable positions, Ankara is playing a deeper game-one of strategic patience and calculated positioning. With no clear breakthrough in sight, Türkiye is less concerned about short-term success than about establishing itself as the indispensable broker of any future peace settlement. Backed by the quiet nod of Washington-especially under the returning influence of Donald Trump-Erdoğan is making a bid to shape the postwar architecture in Eastern Europe.

The latest Istanbul negotiations, held behind closed ...