Türkiye pushes for renewed Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Kyiv

Türkiye pushes for renewed Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Kyiv
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (R) welcomes Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan (L) in Kyiv, Ukraine, 16 July, 2026
Reuters

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for a renewed round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks during a two-day visit to Kyiv, as Ankara seeks to revive its role as a mediator and advance efforts towards a negotiated end to the war.

Diplomacy back in focus

On Thursday, Fidan met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to discuss Türkiye's diplomatic efforts to end the war, security in the Black Sea and bilateral ties between Kyiv and Ankara.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Fidan called for the continuation of the Türkiye-brokered Istanbul negotiation process, highlighting Ankara's ongoing efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.

Türkiye, he told reporters, was working on "new ideas and approaches", which, he said, could help overcome the current diplomatic deadlock.

Since the war began in 2022, Türkiye has hosted several rounds of direct Russia-Ukraine talks.

It has also sought to maintain relations with both sides while consistently voicing support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Türkiye as a venue

Sybiha, for his part, said Türkiye could potentially host a future meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We believe that only a meeting at the leaders' level can give fresh momentum to the peace process," he said, adding that Türkiye could be "one of the main venues" for talks.

According to Sybiha, Ukraine remains "ready for a ceasefire", although Kyiv hopes to secure international security guarantees as part of any eventual settlement.

Black Sea security also topped the agenda during Thursday's discussions.

Türkiye controls access to the Black Sea through the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits and has consistently sought to prevent the conflict from spreading further across the region.

In 2022, Ankara helped broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukrainian agricultural exports to reach global markets before Russia withdrew from the agreement the following year.

Economic ties deepen

Fidan is also expected to meet Zelenskyy during his visit to Kyiv, along with representatives of the Crimean Tatar community.

Beyond the war, Türkiye and Ukraine have continued to deepen their economic and defence ties.

Ukraine recently ratified a long-awaited free trade agreement with Türkiye, while Turkish companies are expected to play a key role in the country's post-war reconstruction.

Fidan's visit underscores Türkiye's efforts to position itself as a key intermediary in the conflict, leveraging its NATO membership and its relations with Moscow in pursuit of a negotiated settlement.

Tags