Türkiye offers to host Ukraine-Russia peace summit in Istanbul

Türkiye has formally offered to host a new round of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, potentially including a leaders' summit in Istanbul. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced the diplomatic initiative during his address at the TRT World Forum on Saturday, reaffirming Ankara's commitment to facilitating dialogue as a path toward resolving the ongoing conflict.

A Track Record of Facilitation

Minister Fidan highlighted Türkiye's unique position as a nation maintaining constructive relations with both sides, which previously enabled the Istanbul peace process. "We successfully facilitated their return to the negotiating table through the Istanbul process," Fidan stated, referencing three previous rounds of talks and prisoner exchanges that Türkiye has hosted. He emphasized that "dialogue and diplomacy" would remain the cornerstone of Turkish foreign policy.

Critique of Global Governance

The foreign minister used his platform to deliver a broader critique of international institutions, arguing that great powers are losing functionality while mechanisms for preserving stability are failing. "The challenge we face today is not the absence of rules but their unequal application," Fidan declared, specifically calling for reform of the UN Security Council to replace "privileges for a few" with a framework serving all nations.

The Gaza Precedent and Regional Solutions

Fidan pointed to the situation in Gaza as evidence of systemic failure, stating that the price of faltering mechanisms is paid in "human suffering." He credited Turkish diplomatic efforts, including President Erdoğan's leadership in forming contact groups and engaging with US President Trump, for helping achieve the current ceasefire. Fidan stressed that Gaza must ultimately be "governed by Palestinians" and that a just peace requires implementation of the two-state solution, illustrating his principle that "stability cannot be imposed; it must be cultivated."