Türkiye urges continuation of Istanbul talks on Russia-Ukraine war

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that continuing the Türkiye-mediated Istanbul talks on the Russia-Ukraine war would be highly beneficial, urging all parties to prevent the conflict from spreading into the Black Sea region, according to AA.

Speaking alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in the Ukrainian capital, Fidan emphasized Ankara's readiness to facilitate further negotiations. "I believe it would be very beneficial for Türkiye-mediated Istanbul talks on the Russia-Ukraine war to continue under the same framework," he said. He added that the diplomatic channel remains open for both Moscow and Kyiv.

Black Sea security warnings

The Turkish foreign minister specifically addressed growing concerns over maritime security. "We do not want the war to be carried into the Black Sea," Fidan said. "The targeting of ports, tankers and fishing boats in Black Sea and putting civilians' lives at risk cannot be justified."

Diplomatic track record

Türkiye hosted the last major direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in March 2022. While those talks failed to produce a comprehensive settlement, Ankara has facilitated several prisoner exchanges and the Black Sea Grain Initiative through its mediation efforts.

Fidan's visit to Kyiv comes as international diplomats seek to revive frozen negotiation channels. The Istanbul process represented the closest the warring sides have come to a negotiated settlement before the talks collapsed in spring 2022.