Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan today. He was also received by Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a closed-door meeting. The foreign ministers discussed the Ukrainian settlement, Syria, the Gaza and bilateral relations, particularly new projects in the area of nuclear energy.
Commenting on Ukraine, Fidan underscored Türkiye’s commitment to fostering peace between Russia and Ukraine, stating, “We want both of our neighbors to live in peace and tranquility. This war negatively impacts multiple regions. We hope for a permanent resolution to the crisis.”
He also acknowledged a new initiative led by the United States, noting that it aligns with Türkiye’s policies since the beginning of the war, Hürriyet Daily News reports.
Pointing to energy projects, Lavrov said, “There is also serious groundwork for new beginnings in the area of nuclear energy. Speaking about energy, issues of exploitation and ensuring safety of TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines were mentioned, this being necessary amid numerous provocations by the Kiev regime, which is attempting to undermine normal operation of energy facilities, including pipelines, using terrorist attacks.”
While no statement was released following the closed-door meeting between Lavrov and Turkish President Erdogan, the president had earlier in the day posted on social media a video message saying Türkiye was ready to help mediate a Russia-Ukraine settlement.
“Just as we did at the beginning of the conflict three years ago, today we are determined to make every effort to end the war through negotiations,” he said, according to TASS. “At the same time, we continue to resolutely support the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Last week in Ankara, we discussed with Mr. Zelenskyy the contribution that Türkiye could make at this important stage, and its desire to host the talks.”
