Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lauded Türkiye for its diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia following discussions in Kyiv with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. During their meeting, Zelenskyy honored Fidan with the Order of Merit, Second Class, acknowledging Türkiye’s significant contributions to peace efforts.
The leaders talked extensively about the current diplomatic landscape, ongoing battlefield developments, and strategies to rejuvenate peace negotiations. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s steadfast mediation and voiced hopes for enhanced cooperation, particularly in implementing the newly ratified Ukraine-Türkiye Free Trade Agreement.
Türkiye has consistently engaged with both Ukraine and Russia throughout the conflict. It has previously facilitated peace talks in Istanbul, overseen prisoner exchanges, and played a pivotal role in the Black Sea grain initiative. Fidan emphasized that the “Istanbul format” remains an essential framework for negotiations and reiterated Türkiye’s readiness to host future peace discussions.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also commented on the situation, noting that Zelenskyy is open to meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye, should conditions become favorable. This statement underscores the ongoing commitment from Ukraine and Türkiye to seek diplomatic solutions to the conflict.