Initial reports indicate no injuries or major structural damage.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake rattled central Türkiye on Thursday, with tremors felt in Ankara as President Erdogan was meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelensky.
Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD) reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was in the Kulu district of Konya province, striking at 3:46 pm local time. Reports indicate the earthquake was also felt in neighboring provinces.
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas stated that the earthquake was felt in the capital and that authorities were “closely monitoring developments.”
Zelensky’s visit to Türkiye, which followed a proposal from Russian President Putin for direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv, concluded with a meeting with Erdogan at the presidential complex in Ankara, according to recent news reports.
Last week, Putin proposed resuming direct dialogue to achieve a lasting resolution to the Ukraine conflict. The potential talks in Istanbul would represent the first meeting between Russia and Ukraine since 2022, when peace negotiations were abandoned by Kyiv.
© Getty Images / Anadolu / Contributor
The Russian delegation, including presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin, and the head of Russia’s military intelligence, Igor Kostyukov, has arrived in Istanbul.
Zelensky stated later on Thursday that he would send a delegation led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, after previously stating he would only speak directly with Putin.
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