Erdoğan sees fresh hope for Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye sees renewed potential for restarting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, following a fresh round of diplomatic contacts and a key statement from Moscow backing a return to negotiations in Istanbul.

Responding to a question about the likelihood of a permanent ceasefire, Erdoğan acknowledged the complexity of the war, describing it as “a multilayered crisis involving global actors, not just a conflict between two countries,” Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media. 

He cited Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent visit to Moscow as a catalyst for renewed momentum, noting that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had expressed support for holding a second round of talks in İstanbul.

“Lavrov’s statement should not be taken lightly,” Erdoğan said, adding that it had strengthened Ankara’s hope for peace. “Inshallah, the İstanbul Peace Process will begin anew.”

Türkiye has positioned itself as a key mediator since the early stages of the war, hosting the initial rounds of talks and maintaining open lines of communication with both Kyiv and Moscow. Erdoğan said his government is continuing its efforts and views the current momentum as “a genuine opportunity for lasting peace.”

“We keep reminding all parties that this window of opportunity must not be closed,” he said. “The path to resolution lies in more diplomacy and more dialogue.”

Erdoğan also stressed the broader impact of the war, pointing to how it has transformed Europe’s security architecture and energy policies. He said the EU’s search for alternatives to Russian energy has further increased Türkiye’s strategic relevance as a transit hub.

Bringing an end to the war, he concluded, is both a humanitarian duty and a matter of national interest.

By Aghakazim Guliyev