Lavrov, Fidan to discuss Ukraine during Turkish FM's Moscow visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on May 27, with discussions expected to focus on bilateral relations and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Ukrainian issue will be "naturally, the main topic" of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Fidan, though he emphasised that the Turkish minister is primarily in Moscow for talks with Lavrov, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“And yet Fidan is coming for talks with [Russian counterpart Sergei] Lavrov,” Peskov also noted.”At these talks, of course, the main topic will be the discussion of bilateral relations. And, of course, an exchange of views on the Ukrainian issue will be obligatory,” Peskov said during a briefing.

Fidan is in Russia for a two-day official visit, during which he has already met with Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, Turkish Foreign Ministry reported.

Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan met with Vladimir Medinsky, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, in Moscow. 🇹🇷🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/E5x46608Ef

— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) May 26, 2025

While the ministry did not disclose details of the agenda, a source told TASS that Fidan is scheduled to be received by Putin on May 26.

Meetings with Foreign Intelligence Service Chief Sergei Naryshkin, and other senior Russian officials are also scheduled.

Türkiye continues to position itself as a key mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The visit follows talks earlier this month in Istanbul between representatives from Russia and Ukraine regarding a possible ceasefire in the conflict. While the meeting did not yield significant progress towards ending the hostilities, it resulted in an agreement on a major prisoner-of-war exchange.

By Sabina Mammadli