New Russia-Ukraine peace talks expected as both sides see benefits: Turkish foreign minister

ISTANBUL

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday that a new round of Russia-Ukraine talks is expected as both sides recognize the value of dialogue.

In an interview with TRT News, Fidan stressed that the war, now nearing its fourth year, is not just between two nations but has become a global conflict due to international involvement.

He reiterated Türkiye’s consistent stance against war and highlighted the immense human and economic toll, with over a million killed or wounded and major cities destroyed.

Fidan pointed to Ankara’s efforts for peace, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the 2022 Istanbul talks and multiple prisoner exchanges.

He said ceasefire momentum grew during the Trump administration and recalled his own high-level visits to Moscow and Kyiv.

Fidan added that the June 2 meeting was held in a positive spirit, resulting in an agreement on a new prisoner exchange involving over 1,000 people.

Documents outlining ceasefire conditions were presented by both Russia and Ukraine, and the parties exchanged views on a potential leaders’ summit, he said, noting that they also agreed on the need to reconvene for a next round of talks.

“Given the current conditions and the psychological environment shaped by war, this was the best possible meeting. The key is not to leave the table and to maintain a commitment to a ceasefire and peace. This is our advice to the parties. Whether the table is in Türkiye or elsewhere is not important. What matters is that these parties keep coming together and continue talks,” he said.

Fidan noted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s willingness to host a potential leaders’ meeting, emphasizing that Erdogan is the only leader trusted by all three sides.

“A venue can be found, but as a political leader with a global stance, tested by years of tough struggles, known for honesty, reliability, and professional institutions, no other leader qualifies,” he added.

Fidan also said that a face-to-face meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders will become inevitable if progress is made in future talks.

He said US aid to Ukraine under former President Joe Biden is ongoing but expected to end in a few months, after which US President Donald Trump’s decisions could alter the conflict’s dynamics.

Syria

Fidan also addressed the newly established mechanism for combatting the ISIS (Daesh) terror group involving Türkiye, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

He said that a few weeks ago, the Jordanian and Syrian foreign ministers were hosted in Ankara, during which a foundational decision was made to activate an intelligence and operations cell through military and intelligence delegations.

“Teams composed of members from Jordan, Syria and Türkiye have now activated the Counter-Daesh Coordination Cell. This is a significant step for regional security,” he added.

Fidan said there has been little visible progress following a March 10 integration deal between the Syrian government and the PKK/YPG terrorist group, which operates under the name SDF in Syria, but noted that significant developments are taking place behind the scenes.

He also said the US involvement in Syria, institutional developments on the ground, and Türkiye’s ongoing efforts are increasingly aligning.

“We are moving toward a framework in which Damascus, Ankara and Washington can coordinate more closely to address this threat effectively,” he added.