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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the Türkiye-Russia-Ukraine Trilateral Meeting at Ciragan Palace, stating that achieving sustainable peace remains the primary objective in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"The main thing is to ensure sustainable peace. In this way, it will contribute to the solution of many issues, such as energy, food and transportation security experienced in the global area. In this process, as Türkiye, we are ready to take all kinds of facilitating steps," Fidan said during his opening address.
Foreign Minister Fidan noted that contacts continue based on the common will of leaders, emphasizing that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains in constant contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, making maximum efforts for the process to advance.
Following President Erdogan's instructions after the first meeting, Fidan said he visited both Russia and Ukraine to prepare for the Türkiye-Russia-Ukraine Trilateral Meeting and discussed the matter with both sides.
Fidan thanked the parties for the result-oriented and constructive approach shown at the May 16 meeting, stating, "The parties took very important steps to implement the decisions taken at the first meeting. The exchange of 1,000 people was completed in a short time. Both sides determined their attitudes towards a cease-fire and subsequent steps as they promised."
The foreign minister indicated they aim to continue evaluating the conditions and perspectives of both countries regarding a cease-fire during the meeting.
"At the same time, we aim to take the process of exchange of prisoners of war one step further with humanitarian considerations. We also plan to address the necessary preparations for the leaders' meeting," Fidan explained regarding the meeting's objectives.
Fidan expressed that their fundamental expectation is for the talks to proceed fruitfully, achieve concrete progress in the shortest time possible, and reach the desired outcome.
The foreign minister highlighted American support for the peace process, stating, "We find America's belief and support for these talks extremely important. Trump's (US President Donald Trump) determination regarding the establishment of peace has opened a new window of opportunity."
Emphasizing Türkiye's readiness to support peace efforts, Fidan said, "The main thing is to ensure sustainable peace. In this way, it will contribute to the solution of many issues, such as energy, food and transportation security, experienced in the global area."
"In this process, as Türkiye, we are ready to take all kinds of facilitating steps. The trust that two countries with which we share the same geography and have strong historical, cultural, economic, and political ties have in Türkiye is beyond all considerations for us," he added.
Fidan noted that the meetings between the two countries in Istanbul will be decisive on regional and global common destiny, emphasizing that the whole world's attention is focused on the contacts and discussions that Russia and Ukraine will hold.
"We wholeheartedly believe that Russia and Ukraine will make the most of this opportunity and achieve concrete results that will bring them one step closer to peace," Fidan stated, expressing his thanks to the delegation heads and members of both countries and wishing that the negotiations would bring good results for the Russian and Ukrainian peoples.
The Türkiye-Russia-Ukraine Trilateral Meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, also includes National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief Ibrahim Kalin and Chief of General Staff General Metin Gurak.
The Russian delegation consists of Presidential Advisor Vladimir Medinsky, assistant to the Russian president, alongside Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, and Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) chief Igor Kostyukov.
The Ukrainian delegation includes Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Oleksandr Poklad, and First Deputy Foreign Intelligence Service Head Oleh Luhovskyi.
The trilateral meeting represents a significant diplomatic initiative as Türkiye continues its mediating role between Russia and Ukraine, building on previous successful engagements, including the completed prisoner exchange arrangement.
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