Türkiye renews push for Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, offers to host talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara has renewed its efforts to help mediate between Russia and Ukraine, holding high-level talks in Moscow and signalling Türkiye’s readiness to host potential negotiations.

During a visit to Russia this week, Fidan met with President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

He said Türkiye used the opportunity to present its proposals for a potential ceasefire and reaffirm its role as a regional power capable of facilitating peace.

“As a country that has closely followed this war from the beginning — not just calling for a halt to fighting but also offering realistic parameters for peace — we have conveyed our views clearly,” Fidan said. “Our President’s perspective on the issue was also shared.”

Türkiye has maintained open channels with both Kyiv and Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, positioning itself as one of the few countries able to speak to both sides. Fidan noted that the Russians reacted positively to Türkiye’s input, later publicly confirming they were awaiting a response from Ukraine by 2 June.

“Given the current conditions, the sides need a venue where they can sit face-to-face and negotiate. Türkiye is an ideal actor to host such a process,” he added.

Fidan is due to travel to Ukraine next, where he will meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials. He said Türkiye would continue to promote a negotiated ceasefire and gather feedback from Kyiv on potential next steps.

“Both sides want a ceasefire — no one publicly rejects it — but they differ significantly on the terms,” Fidan said. “Our mediation, along with input from others, could help narrow that gap.”

Ukraine has called for an unconditional, 30-day ceasefire backed by European allies. Russia, according to Fidan, has questioned the point of such a truce if hostilities are likely to resume afterwards and has laid out its own preconditions.

“These are legitimate concerns and open to negotiation,” Fidan said. “We know what both sides want. Our role is to bring them closer.”

Fidan warned, however, that even the most intense diplomatic engagement cannot outweigh the human and material cost of continued warfare. “That’s why Türkiye is doing its utmost. But the responsibility lies with all countries that claim to support peace. They must also act.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev