Turkey on Friday proposed to host a meeting between the American, Russian, and Ukrainian presidents in an effort to advance toward an end to the three-year war in Ukraine.
NATO member Turkey, which has strove to maintain relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has become a key mediator amid US President Donald Trump’s push for a deal to end the fighting.
“We sincerely think that it is possible to cap the first and second direct Istanbul talks with a meeting between Mr. Trump, Mr. (Vladimir) Putin and M. (Volodymyr) Zelensky, under the direction of Mr. (Recep Tayyip Erdogan),” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said while on a visit to Kyiv.
“We can either close our eyes to the continuation of this war, or to reach a durable peace before the end of the year,” Fidan said. “Expectations for a ceasefire and peace have increased.”
“Progress can certainly be made as long as we remain at the negotiating table,” added Fidan, who was to meet with Zelensky in Kyiv later in the day.
Earlier this week, he held talks with senior officials in Moscow.
AFP
