Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan characterized his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as “very warm” and “productive,” particularly in the context of ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking to Milliyet following his visit to Moscow on May 26–27, Fidan said:
“The meeting [with President Putin], frankly speaking, took place in a very warm atmosphere. We mostly discussed the Ukraine negotiations. Turkey had specific assessments following the talks held in Istanbul [on May 16], which I shared. I received a response, and I hope this will contribute to the effectiveness of my upcoming visit to Kiev [scheduled for May 29–30].”
Fidan underscored the importance of such high-level discussions: “Contacts like these, where frank dialogue is possible, are very important if you genuinely want to make progress. In that sense, I found the meeting very beneficial.”
The Istanbul negotiations on May 16 marked the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations since 2022. According to Russian officials, the two sides agreed on a prisoner exchange — one thousand for one thousand — and committed to presenting detailed proposals on a potential ceasefire and continuing the negotiation process.
Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led Moscow’s delegation, noted that Russia was satisfied with the results. He also confirmed that Ukraine had requested a direct meeting between President Vladimir Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin, and that Moscow had “taken this request under advisement.”
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS