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Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin met Thursday in Ankara with Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Turkish security sources said.
The talks focused on assessments of the current security situation in Ukraine and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, including its regional and global implications, the sources said.
Kalin and Umerov discussed possible steps toward achieving peace, recent developments in negotiation efforts and potential initiatives that could be considered in light of regional conditions. The meeting also addressed the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia and ongoing and potential prisoner exchange efforts between the sides.
The two officials agreed to continue systematic cooperation between Türkiye and Ukraine within existing cooperation mechanisms, the sources said.
The meeting followed talks earlier this week between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Umerov. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the meeting took place Tuesday in Ankara but provided no further details.
The discussions come as diplomatic efforts intensify to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which is approaching its fourth year.
Maintaining ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, Türkiye has positioned itself as a key mediator seeking to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation.
Umerov said Thursday that Ukraine is preparing to hold a meeting with European security advisers on Jan. 3. In a statement, he said he had held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as several European representatives.
“Reported to the president of Ukraine on the results of a telephone conversation with American and European partners,” Umerov said. He added that national security advisers from Britain, Germany and France also took part.
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Umerov said positions were coordinated and that additional meetings with European and American partners were planned for January.
He said the Jan. 3 meeting would be held in the format of national security advisers, with representatives from more than 10 countries expected to participate, along with NATO, the European Commission and the European Council. U.S. officials are also expected to join the meeting online.
Ukraine will continue working on solutions that “should produce tangible results” in the new year, Umerov said.
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