Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commended Türkiye for its ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia. This comes in the wake of a meeting in Kyiv with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. As a gesture of appreciation for Türkiye’s role in promoting peace initiatives, Zelenskyy awarded Fidan the Order of Merit, Second Class.
The meeting between Zelenskyy and Fidan focused on the current diplomatic landscape, developments occurring on the battlefield, and potential strategies to rejuvenate peace negotiations. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s mediating actions and conveyed optimism for enhanced cooperation, particularly in light of the recently ratified Ukraine-Türkiye Free Trade Agreement.
Throughout the conflict, Türkiye has managed to maintain relations with both Ukraine and Russia. It has previously hosted peace discussions in Istanbul and facilitated prisoner exchanges as well as the Black Sea grain initiative. Fidan reiterated that the “Istanbul format” of negotiations should persist and emphasized that Türkiye remains willing to host future peace talks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also indicated that President Zelenskyy is open to meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye, should the conditions be favorable. This statement underscores the ongoing efforts by both Ukraine and Türkiye to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict.