Turkish FM sees Ukraine-Russia deal securing decades of peace

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said a possible agreement between Ukraine and Russia could secure 50 to 70 years of peace in the region.

In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, Fidan noted that a peace treaty must include a commitment by both sides not to attack each other under any circumstances, Caliber.Az reports.

He argued that, if achieved, such an agreement could bring “50, 60, 70 years of peace, perhaps even more.”

At the same time, he stressed that a peace deal would not mean abandoning security measures, as neither Europe nor Russia would do so, and both would continue preparing for various scenarios, including those involving NATO.

Fidan added that only time will show how long peace can be preserved, but emphasised that Russia is also suffering economically and socially and would benefit from an agreement.

He believes both Ukraine and Russia are now more prepared for peace than ever, having witnessed the scale of human suffering, destruction, and their own limitations.

Asked whether this discussion also relates to Türkiye as an EU member, Fidan said Türkiye would indeed prefer to join the EU, adding that such debates are urgently needed regardless.

Responding to concerns voiced by European officials about the rule of law, democracy, and human rights, he argued that these criticisms are subjective, while the EU accession process itself is objective: chapters must be opened, criteria evaluated, and progress assessed accordingly.

He recalled that the blockage did not arise from the issues cited, but from political and ideological positions of certain EU member states, stressing that President Erdoğan has made Türkiye’s intention to join the EU clear.

What matters now, he said, is for political will in Europe to return — once that happens, “the rest will resolve itself,” as the next move lies with the EU.

By Jeyhun Aghazada