Türkiye sees hope for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in coming days, FM Fidan

Ukraine and the Russian Federation may meet for peace talks in the coming days, as suggested by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

“It is important for us to have peace and stability in our region. I believe the sides will reach a compromise in the coming days. Both sides are trying to secure U.S. support. We are calling on them to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible,” Fidan stated, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Fidan also highlighted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent wave of high-level diplomatic engagements, describing it as an “intense diplomatic schedule.” Over the past week, Erdoğan held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, underlining Türkiye’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between conflicting sides.

“Our position regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia has been clear from the very beginning. Our president has repeatedly expressed this. Türkiye is trying to fulfil its role through all of its institutions,” Fidan said.

According to Fidan, Türkiye’s central role in these negotiations is of key importance.

Fidan’s comments signal that Ankara is once again positioning itself as a potential mediator, following its previous role in brokering the 2022 Black Sea grain deal and hosting early rounds of peace talks.

For the record, Türkiye has consistently sought to balance its relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, supplying drones to Ukraine while maintaining open channels with the Kremlin. As geopolitical tensions persist, Ankara’s ability to bridge the divide could prove crucial in paving the way for a negotiated settlement.

Notably, Putin and Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, for direct peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between their nations. This marks the first face-to-face negotiation attempt between the two leaders since the breakdown of earlier talks in 2022.

Putin proposed the meeting without preconditions, emphasising the need for a “long-term, lasting peace.” Ahead of the meeting, Ukraine and its Western allies urged Russia to commit to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire before any negotiations proceed. 

Türkiye has offered to host the negotiations and is committed to supporting the peace process and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

By Khagan Isayev