“When it comes to Russia-Ukraine talks, if you ask me, I would again turn to our Turkish friends — Istanbul is very suitable,” Lavrov said.
Fidan echoed the sentiment, saying Turkey “is always ready to provide a platform” for talks and considers it its duty to help ensure peace worldwide.
Earlier, Lavrov dismissed the idea of holding negotiations at the Vatican as unrealistic. According to Reuters, sources said this was because Russia and Ukraine are predominantly Orthodox countries, while the Vatican is the center of Catholicism. Additionally, the Vatican is surrounded by Italy, a NATO member that supports Ukraine and has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Russia. Many senior Kremlin officials would also find it difficult to travel to the Vatican due to EU sanctions.
Fidan, on a two-day visit to Moscow, reiterated Turkey’s commitment to facilitating a just and lasting peace in the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. Turkish media reported that during meetings with Vladimir Putin and key negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, Fidan stressed Turkey’s readiness to contribute as a mediator in the next round of talks.
“The Russia-Ukraine war naturally took a prominent place in my discussions in Moscow,” Fidan said. “We are glad a prisoner exchange took place, and preparations continue to resolve other issues… Turkey stands ready to fully support negotiations for peace.”
Fidan added that during his meetings in Moscow, he expressed Turkey’s willingness to contribute to holding further rounds of negotiations in Turkey.
On May 16, the first meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in over three years took place in Istanbul under Turkish mediation. Ukraine’s Defense Minister and head of its delegation, Rustem Umerov, said the key topics were ceasefire and prisoner exchange, with a future leaders’ meeting planned. Both sides agreed to hold a follow-up meeting and to communicate ceasefire terms in writing.
The Ukrainian delegation included representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Presidential Office, security services, intelligence, and General Staff, led by Umerov. Russia sent a lower-level delegation led by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, and General Staff Chief Igor Kostyukov.