Erdoğan and Putin Meet in Bishkek Amid Russia-Ukraine Focus at SCO Summit

The meeting took place in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on September 1, 2026, as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. According to Sabah, the focus of the dialogue was on Russia-Ukraine issues. The SCO summit, which included leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkey, and other member states, was expected to address a range of geopolitical concerns. The Kyrgyzstan Institute of World Politics noted that the summit would not be limited to the usual format of member state leader meetings, indicating a shift toward broader diplomatic engagement.