Turkish FM pledges continued shuttle diplomacy in bid for Ukraine conflict resolution

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has begun a two-day official visit to Ukraine, reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to continuing shuttle diplomacy aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking ahead of his trip, which runs from May 29 to 30, Fidan emphasised Ankara’s sustained efforts to promote peace in the region, Caliber.Az reports via the Turkish press.

“We will continue shuttle diplomacy. We are making sincere efforts to achieve peace. We are a country that can travel first to Russia and then to Ukraine within a week. This is a very important sign of respect for our country and our president. We are trying to use this opportunity to establish peace in our region,” he stated.

Fidan is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. During his visit, he is expected to be received by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The Turkish minister is expected to reiterate Türkiye’s readiness to continue facilitating talks between Kyiv and Moscow and to underline Ankara’s commitment to honouring its diplomatic responsibilities as it has done throughout the conflict.

According to diplomatic sources, Fidan will also underscore the importance of ensuring maritime safety in the Black Sea — a critical issue since the conflict disrupted trade routes and grain exports.

In his meetings in Kyiv, the Turkish foreign minister will highlight the grave and deteriorating humanitarian and economic consequences of the war, advocating for a diplomatic resolution that leads to a just and lasting peace.

Additionally, Fidan is expected to express Türkiye’s willingness to contribute to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. His discussions will also cover the deepening of bilateral ties across various sectors, particularly trade, energy, defence, and security, within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

As part of his program, Fidan will also hold talks with Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. Umerov led Ukraine’s delegation in the latest round of direct negotiations with Russia, which took place in Istanbul on May 16.

By Tamilla Hasanova