The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, is currently on his bilateral visit to Moscow, where he has held several important meetings with the Russian leadership
At the end of the week, he plans to visit Kyiv. During this period, Turkey is seeking to assume the role of mediator in the complex diplomatic processes unfolding around the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and intends to intensify its efforts to facilitate dialogue between the parties. According to Reuters, the Turkish Foreign Minister is currently in Moscow on an official two-week visit. On Monday, the first day of his visit, he met with President Vladimir Putin, as well as with Russia's chief diplomatic representative in negotiations with Ukraine – Foreign Minister Vladimir Medinsky. On Tuesday, a meeting is scheduled with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which is expected to mark a new step in Russia's series of diplomatic contacts with Turkey. Sources from diplomatic circles report that during the negotiations in Moscow, the high-ranking Turkish official discussed with Russian officials initiatives that have been implemented recently aimed at finding ways to end military aggression and restore peace in Ukraine. In particular, the results of the May 16 negotiations in Istanbul were discussed, which aimed to promote a diplomatic solution to the conflict. A Turkish source added that the ministerial discussion focused on the further development of events surrounding this crucial issue. According to reports, on Monday, Russian officials stated that the main topic of negotiations with Fidan would be bilateral relations, while not ignoring discussions about the situation in Ukraine. It is emphasized that Turkey strongly underscores its potential role as a mediator, ready to participate in diplomatic processes and facilitate the resolution of the conflict. Ahead of Fidan's visit, there was information that Ankara continues to emphasize its readiness to act as a neutral mediator and to offer venues for negotiations. Turkish diplomats intend to reiterate their proposal to create conditions for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. In this context, the countries are also attempting to engage other potential mediators – notably the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, which are considered as possible venues for negotiations. At the same time, statements are emerging in the Russian information space claiming that Moscow currently does not see the feasibility of negotiating with Ukraine at the Vatican. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that the Vatican’s participation in such processes is "illegitimate" and does not align with Moscow's real interests. This indicates the complexity and tension in diplomatic consultations ongoing around the search for ways to resolve the conflict. Overall, the situation surrounding Turkey’s potential mediation in resolving the conflict remains tense and multifaceted. Following his meeting with Putin in Moscow, Hakan Fidan intends to provide detailed information to the Ukrainian side and possibly facilitate the opening of new negotiation platforms. His visit to Kyiv is expected to be a key step in advancing diplomatic initiatives aimed at finding a stable and long-term peace. Meanwhile, all participants remain cautious, and the diplomatic process continues to be very complex and unpredictable, reflecting a deep crisis in relations between the countries and the need for new approaches and formats to resolve the conflict.