Turkish foreign minister to visit Ukraine for strategic partnership talks

Strategic Partnership and Black Sea Security

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will visit Ukraine on Wednesday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties, advancing peace efforts, and ensuring security in the Black Sea region. The Turkish delegation is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Presidential Office head Kyrylo Budanov, and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, according to diplomatic sources.

Fidan is expected to discuss expanding cooperation in defense, energy, and economic sectors while reaffirming Ankara's support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He will also underscore the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading to the Black Sea, emphasizing that attacks on ports, commercial vessels, and fishing boats remain unacceptable under any circumstances.

Diplomatic Initiatives and Crimean Tatar Rights

The foreign minister will reiterate Türkiye's readiness to facilitate negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv to achieve a just and lasting peace. During the visit, Fidan is also scheduled to meet with Crimean Tatar national leader Mustafa Abdulcemil Kirimoglu and Mejlis Chairman Refat Chubarov to discuss the protection of Tatar rights and Ankara's unchanged position regarding the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Turkish companies' potential role in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction through existing investments and new projects will feature prominently in the discussions. Fidan is expected to highlight Ankara's commitment to preserving the Black Sea as a zone of peace, stability, and cooperation through sustained diplomatic engagement.

Economic Cooperation and Trade Targets

Ukraine's parliament ratified the Türkiye-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement on Monday, clearing the way for the deal signed in February 2022 to enter into force upon Zelenskyy's signature. The agreement aims to provide Turkish exporters with competitive conditions comparable to those enjoyed by EU counterparts and help both nations reach their bilateral trade target of $10 billion.

Trade between the two countries reached $6.6 billion in 2025, rising from $6.2 billion the previous year. Fidan last traveled to Ukraine on May 29-30, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha most recently visited Türkiye during the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.