ISTANBUL

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that the Turkish metropolis Istanbul could host the second round of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv to find a settlement for the ongoing Ukraine war.

“As for the second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, if you ask me, I would again turn to our Turkish friends. Istanbul is very good,” Lavrov said during a joint news conference following talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Moscow.

Türkiye facilitated the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in three years in Istanbul on May 16, where the two sides agreed to a large-scale exchange of prisoners involving a total of 1,000 people from each side and to continue negotiations for a truce.

The two foreign ministers met on the second day of Fidan's working visit to Moscow where he previously met with Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, leader of the Russian delegation at the Russia-Ukraine talks held in Istanbul on May 16, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Fidan once again expressed Türkiye’s readiness for negotiations and extended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s support for the process.

Situation in Gaza and West Bank is ‘unacceptable’

Lavrov also said Ankara and Moscow share a unified position with regard to the situation in Gaza, describing the violence in the besieged strip and the West Bank as “unacceptable.”

Both Lavrov and Fidan stated their concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Fidan stressing that the “genocide in Gaza must stop at once, otherwise a chaos that can engulf Israel will be unstoppable.”

“This much pain, blood, and tears will not be without consequence. This must stop at once. Humanity and the international community must show a wholehearted effort to pass the humanitarian trial it has failed. We will continue working with Russia in this regard,” said Fidan.

Support for Syrian sovereignty

The Turkish foreign minister also stated the common support of Türkiye and Russia for Syria’s sovereignty and unity while working to achieve stability and welfare.

Fidan stated that they also discussed the significant developments that have taken place in the past five months in terms of establishing political and economic stability and security in Syria.

He emphasized that despite the ongoing "disinformation campaigns," Syria has largely secured the support of both the public and the international community. Fidan also noted that Syria is continuously improving its capabilities and resources in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.

Stressing that Türkiye supports efforts to unite all military groups in Syria under a national army and a central command, Fidan stressed the importance of all relevant parties using their influence to ensure the implementation of the memorandum signed on March 10 between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Farhad Abdi Shaheen.

Fidan underlined that the decisions taken by the US and EU to lift sanctions on Syria are extremely important. He expressed great satisfaction with the results of the intensive diplomatic efforts led by Turkish President Erdogan to ensure the lifting of these sanctions.