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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone conversations Tuesday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to discuss recent high-level diplomatic meetings aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The calls centered on outcomes from two critical meetings: U.S. President Donald Trump's Aug. 15 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, followed by Trump's discussions Monday ine Washington with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
During his conversation with Rubio, Fidan expressed Türkiye's willingness to support efforts toward achieving "a just and lasting peace" between Russia and Ukraine. Both officials emphasized the urgent need to halt the killing between the warring nations, according to a statement from U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Türkiye's Foreign Ministry sources indicated that peace efforts have reached "an advanced stage" following last week's Trump-Putin meeting and the subsequent Washington discussions. Major obstacles in the negotiations reportedly include potential territorial arrangements and security guarantees for Ukraine.
The diplomatic consultations come as international pressure mounts to find a resolution to the conflict that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Beyond Ukraine, the Turkish and American foreign ministers addressed the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, where Israel's military campaign has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians since October 2023. Fidan stressed the need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and emphasized the importance of uninterrupted humanitarian aid delivery to the territory.
The officials also discussed Syria's political transition following the December collapse of the Baath Party regime after 61 years in power. They underscored the importance of maintaining Syria's peace, unity and territorial integrity as the country operates under a transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, which was established in January.
Additional regional topics included the recent U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan signed Aug. 8, and Iran's nuclear program, Pigott said.
In his separate conversation with French Foreign Minister Barrot, Fidan similarly reviewed the Alaska and Washington meetings, with both diplomats focusing on international efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said.
The diplomatic exchanges reflect Türkiye's continued role as a mediator in regional conflicts, having previously facilitated grain export agreements and prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine during the ongoing war.
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