The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed a possible meeting of three world leaders — U
S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — which could become a key step toward ending hostilities in Ukraine. This was, in particular, reported by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his visit to Kyiv on Friday, October 20. According to him, Turkey suggests holding such a trilateral meeting after a possible second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, which could take place as early as next week. In the opinion of the Turkish minister, such a format of meeting would allow for a significant step forward in seeking a political solution to resolve the conflict. Fidan noted that Turkey believes in the viability of this idea and added that the first and second negotiations in Istanbul could culminate in this large summit involving the leaders of the USA, Russia, Ukraine, and the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “We sincerely believe that the final stage of the negotiation process could conclude with a meeting between Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin, and Mr. Zelensky under the leadership of Mr. Erdoğan. Progress in resolving the situation is entirely feasible if all interested parties remain at the negotiating table and pursue dialogue,” the Hurriyet Daily News cited his words, referring to an official statement from the minister. The background of this initiative has its roots in recent diplomatic steps. From Monday to Thursday, Hakan Fidan held a series of negotiations in Moscow with high-ranking officials — notably with Vladimir Putin. Regarding the outcomes of these meetings, it was reported that the Kremlin is willing to consider the possibility of holding a summit with conflict parties, but only if significant progress is achieved during Ukrainian-Russian negotiations. It is worth noting that on Friday, during an official speech in Kyiv, Fidan emphasized that the situation on the front lines and in negotiations is approaching a “critical juncture,” which could determine the further course of events in the war. At the same time, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported that during Ukrainian-Turkish talks, the Turkish Foreign Minister briefed Kyiv on the results of his recent visits to Moscow and expressed hope for rapid progress in the diplomatic process. Overall, the idea of placing three world leaders at one table is not new, but currently, its discussion has gained particular resonance against the backdrop of escalating conflict and the search for new diplomatic avenues for its resolution. The Turkish diplomat stressed that achieving stability and peace requires actively seeking compromises and utilizing all possible diplomatic tools, including high-level formats. Meanwhile, representatives of Western countries and international policy analysts emphasize that large-scale negotiations involving the highest level are a long and complex process that requires meticulous preparation, patience, and mutual understanding. At the same time, according to official statements and information, the situation in the coming days could determine the further direction of diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, and the Turkish initiative acts as a potential catalyst for finding a compromise in these challenging times.