ISTANBUL — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday urged Russia and Ukraine to seize a “critical opportunity” to pursue peace, as the two sides met for the first direct contact since March 2022 amid hopes of restarting negotiations to end the war.
Speaking at the opening of the talks, Fidan called for an immediate cease-fire and underscored the growing urgency of halting the conflict. “This meeting is the first direct contact between the parties since March 2022. We must seize this opportunity to move forward on the path to peace,” he said. “Every day of delay causes more lives to be lost.”
As the war continues to inflict civilian casualties and devastate infrastructure in Ukraine, Ankara—positioning itself once again as a mediator—emphasized the importance of a negotiated path to cease-fire and the potential for future high-level diplomacy.
“We also have an opportunity to ensure a ceasefire through negotiations,” Fidan said, addressing delegates from both sides.
The Turkish foreign minister added that future steps would depend on the decisions made during these preliminary talks. “We will determine the next stage together in line with the choices we will make and the steps we will take,” he said. “It is also very important that these meetings form the basis of a leaders’ meeting.”
The discussions come amid increased diplomatic activity in the region and calls from several global powers for renewed dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv. While expectations remain modest, Turkey’s role as host of the revived discussions underscores its continuing effort to mediate in one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts in decades.
