Türkiye’s Fidan Heads to Russia Amid Ukraine Peace Push

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will visit Russia May 26–27 for talks with President Putin and FM Lavrov.

May 24, 2025Clash Report

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Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on May 26–27 to advance diplomatic engagement on Ukraine and Syria.

The visit comes amid renewed Turkish efforts to serve as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, following Istanbul’s recent hosting of prisoner exchange negotiations.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan will underline Ankara’s commitment to “a fair and lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine war” and signal willingness to support future negotiations.

The agenda includes regional hotspots like Syria, Gaza, and the South Caucasus. Fidan is also expected to engage Deputy President Vladimir Medinsky and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, both influential figures in Russia’s Ukraine policy.

The talks will also cover trade, energy, and tourism, with both sides reviewing current cooperation and exploring future projects. Türkiye has maintained robust economic ties with Russia despite Western sanctions, positioning itself as a key intermediary.

This trip marks Fidan’s first visit to Russia since attending the BRICS+ summit in June 2024 and follows his previous meetings with Lavrov, most recently at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April 2025.

While Russian officials remain cautious, Türkiye's persistent diplomatic outreach is viewed as one of the few viable channels for future peacebuilding—especially given NATO-EU stalemates and the absence of direct Zelensky-Putin contact.

Türkiye’s Fidan Heads to Russia Amid Ukraine Peace Push