Türkiye’s foreign minister is set to visit Kyiv on Thursday for a two-day diplomatic mission focused on advancing peace efforts in Ukraine, following earlier discussions in Moscow aimed at ending Russia’s war. The development highlights Ankara’s continued push to position itself as a central mediator in the ongoing conflict.
According to a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with top Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The visit comes on the heels of Fidan’s meetings with Russian leadership in Moscow, where talks included potential frameworks for a ceasefire and conditions for resumed peace negotiations.
Fidan’s back-to-back visits to Moscow and Kyiv underscore Türkiye’s efforts to revive stalled diplomacy between the warring nations. Turkish officials have consistently stated that a political solution remains the only viable path to ending the war, which has now entered its third year with devastating human and economic consequences.
In Moscow, Fidan held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and reportedly had a brief meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Though those discussions did not yield an immediate breakthrough, Turkish diplomatic sources said both sides expressed interest in continuing dialogue. The Moscow leg of the mission also included discussions on humanitarian exchanges, with reports suggesting that a prisoner swap involving 1,000 individuals was finalized during the talks.
Türkiye has maintained a delicate balance throughout the war, managing close ties with both Russia and Ukraine while supporting NATO policies and facilitating grain corridor agreements in the Black Sea. Ankara played a central role in the now-defunct 2022 grain deal that allowed Ukrainian exports to continue amid the naval blockade. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also been a frequent interlocutor for both Putin and Zelensky throughout the war.
The visit to Kyiv is expected to reinforce Türkiye’s willingness to host another round of direct peace talks, possibly in Istanbul, where a failed round of negotiations was held in 2022. Turkish officials have reiterated that their country stands ready to host negotiations “at any moment both parties agree.”
Though Russia and Ukraine have hardened their positions in recent months, there is growing international momentum—particularly among non-Western countries—for renewed mediation efforts. Türkiye, alongside partners such as Qatar and China, is seeking to craft a diplomatic lane outside of traditional Western-led formats.
Fidan’s trip to Kyiv also follows renewed shelling in eastern and southern Ukraine, including intensified drone attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials are expected to brief him on battlefield developments and the humanitarian situation in war-torn areas such as Kharkiv and Donetsk.
In Kyiv, Fidan will also engage with Turkish businesses and humanitarian organizations operating in Ukraine. Türkiye has provided substantial post-conflict reconstruction support and remains involved in civilian evacuation efforts.
Regional observers note that Türkiye’s mediation is also closely tied to its broader geopolitical goals—enhancing its role in international diplomacy, maintaining stability in the Black Sea, and positioning itself as an indispensable regional power.
Despite widespread skepticism about the feasibility of an immediate ceasefire, officials from both Kyiv and Moscow continue to acknowledge Ankara’s unique role. “No other country has our level of access to both parties,” a Turkish diplomatic source said. “We’re not just speaking—we’re facilitating.”
Whether Fidan’s shuttle diplomacy will yield concrete outcomes remains to be seen. But amid diplomatic paralysis elsewhere, Türkiye’s sustained engagement offers a rare glimmer of potential in the search for peace.
Source: Arab News
