At the London summit, Turkey will announce its readiness to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
The Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will reiterate Ankara's proposal to accept peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia at the European leaders' meeting in London on Sunday. Turkey, a NATO member, facilitated the first talks between the parties a few months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, helping to secure an agreement for the safe passage of grain exports in the Black Sea. It is noted that any future peace talks must involve both countries.
On Saturday, March 1, a Turkish diplomatic source informed Reuters about the readiness to accept peace negotiations. Journalists note that Ankara has repeatedly called for a ceasefire since 2024 and welcomed the U.S. initiative to end the war, which was derailed by a public dispute between the presidents of Ukraine and the U.S. in Washington on Friday.
"On Sunday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will inform European leaders about Turkey's efforts to find a 'just and lasting peace' in the war," the source said, adding that he would also confirm Ankara's commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," the publication reports.
Fidan is expected to "emphasize that Turkey, which hosted direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in March 2022, is ready to take on this role in the near future," and stress that all parties should work together to focus on long-term regional security and stability, as well as economic prosperity during the talks.
Turkey has maintained good relations with both countries since the beginning of the war. It has provided military support to Kyiv while refusing to participate in Western sanctions against Moscow.
Negotiations in Turkey
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Turkey last month, on the same day that representatives from the U.S. and Russia met for negotiations—without Kyiv's participation—in Riyadh, aimed at ending the war.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also held talks in Ankara. On Saturday, Fidan and Lavrov discussed recent developments regarding the Ukrainian-Russian war during a phone call, marking their third contact in the last two weeks, according to a source.
On Thursday, delegations from the United States and Russia met in Istanbul for talks aimed at resolving bilateral issues related to their respective embassies. Last week, Zelensky stated that he views Turkey as an important guarantor of Ukraine's security.