The Head of Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Kyiv and shared details of his recent trip to Moscow
On May 30, an important meeting took place in Kyiv between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Turkey. Andriy Sybiha, the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, who this week returned from an official visit to Moscow. The main topic of the negotiations was the situation around Ukraine, the efforts of both countries to find a peaceful solution, and regional security. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s press service, during the meeting the parties discussed in detail the bilateral and international agenda, as well as the situation surrounding the Ukrainian conflict. Particular attention was paid to issues related to the peace process and the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a complete ceasefire in the country. The head of the Turkish diplomatic delegation shared the results of his visit to Russia, including the negotiations held in Moscow and the information received. “Minister Fidan has just returned from Moscow and informed me in detail about what he heard and saw there. We discussed specific steps that could bring peace closer to Ukraine,” said Andriy Sybiha, emphasizing the importance of coordinating efforts to achieve peace. Special focus was given to the security situation in the Black Sea region. Both ministers expressed a unified stance on the necessity of ensuring peace, open trade, and freedom of navigation in this strategically important area. “The Black Sea should be a space of peace, where stability, free trade, and unhindered shipping prevail,” Sybiha noted. An equally important topic was post-conflict recovery processes. The diplomats discussed possibilities for implementing the agreements reached at the first meeting of the Ukraine-Turkey working group on Ukraine’s reconstruction. This will be a significant step toward restoring the country’s sustainable development and stability. Moreover, the ministers expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his active role in peacekeeping efforts. Andriy Sybiha highlighted that Turkey unconditionally supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with particular attention to the return of Crimea under Ukrainian control and the protection of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people. “We appreciate Turkey’s support for restoring our sovereignty and the rights of the Crimean Tatar population,” the minister emphasized. Meanwhile, ahead of the anticipated new series of negotiations in Istanbul, Kyiv paid attention to the importance of familiarizing itself with the Russian “memorandum” before the official talks begin. According to Ukrainian representatives, achieving positive results requires having full information and being prepared for diplomatic dialogue by considering all details. In fact, this week has demonstrated an activation of diplomatic efforts from all sides. A new meeting of presidents and ministers in Istanbul is scheduled for June 2, aiming to find consensus and peace. On the eve of this, on May 29, Turkish President Erdoğan once again called on Russia and Ukraine not to “close the door” to dialogue, emphasizing that diplomacy is the way to stabilize the situation and maintain peace in the region. These events show that analysts and diplomatic circles are once again emphasizing the importance of active and coordinated efforts to resolve the conflict and restore peace and stability in the Black Sea region — a strategically vital and geopolitically complex area. Turkey’s and Ukraine’s efforts reflect a commitment to dialogue and the implementation of long-term initiatives in the name of preserving peace, security, and sovereignty in this critical territory.