ISTANBUL / ANKARA
Türkiye believes that continuing the process conducted through the Istanbul talks on the Russia-Ukraine war would be highly beneficial, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday.
“I believe it would be very beneficial for Türkiye-mediated Istanbul talks on the Russia-Ukraine war to continue under the same framework,” Fidan said at a joint news conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Fidan said Türkiye is exploring new strategic approaches to break the current deadlock in the conflict, and that new ideas are being discussed with the parties and mediators.
Fidan stressed the importance of continuing such meetings without interruption, saying: “The fact that the war is continuing does not mean negotiations in this format cannot continue.”
He said that after the Istanbul talks, US negotiators became involved in an effort to determine what could be done to achieve a more final and tangible outcome.
“Unfortunately, as of today, the war is still ongoing and the risk of escalation is increasing,” he added.
Türkiye hosted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, first in the initial weeks of the ongoing war and later in mid-2025.
‘We do not want the war to be carried into the Black Sea’
Fidan said the risk of the conflict spreading, which Türkiye has warned about since the beginning of the war, remains a serious threat.
He noted tensions have continued to escalate in various ways and that developments threatening the security of the Black Sea have further heightened these concerns.
“We do not want the war to be carried into the Black Sea,” he said. “The targeting of ports, tankers and fishing boats in Black Sea and putting civilians’ lives at risk cannot be justified.”
‘Türkiye has agreed to lead the maritime component’
Fidan said one of the key pillars of any potential peace agreement would be security guarantees for Ukraine, covering land, sea and air components.
Regarding Türkiye’s role, Fidan said: “Türkiye has agreed to lead the maritime component, and we have a common understanding on this with our allies. Planning efforts on this issue are also being carried out by the naval forces of the relevant allied countries.”
