Turkey’s foreign minister will reaffirm Ankara’s willingness to mediate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia during a European leaders’ meeting in London on Sunday, according to a Turkish diplomatic source.
Turkey, a NATO member, previously hosted negotiations between the two sides months after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and played a key role in securing a deal for the safe passage of grain exports through the Black Sea. Ankara has maintained that any future peace discussions must involve both nations.
Since 2024, Turkey has consistently called for a ceasefire and has expressed support for the US-led initiative to end the war. However, this effort faced a setback following a public dispute between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States in Washington on Friday.
During Sunday’s meeting, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will update European leaders on Turkey’s diplomatic efforts to achieve a “fair and lasting peace.” He will also reiterate Ankara’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The minister is expected to emphasize that Turkey, which facilitated direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in March 2022, remains ready to assume this role again. He will also stress the need for all parties to work towards regional security, stability, and economic prosperity in future talks.
As a Black Sea nation with ties to both Ukraine and Russia, Turkey has maintained balanced relations since the conflict began. It has provided military support to Kyiv while refraining from joining Western sanctions against Moscow.
Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Turkey on the same day US and Russian officials held negotiations in Riyadh—talks that notably did not include Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Turkish officials in Ankara on Monday. Additionally, US and Russian delegations convened in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss bilateral issues related to their respective embassies.
Zelenskiy recently highlighted Turkey’s role as a key security guarantor for Ukraine.
