Turkiye signals readiness to support peace efforts after Alaska summit
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After the Putin-Trump Alaska summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Ankara's readiness to aid peace efforts in Ukraine.
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The flag of Turkiye flies above Turkish House, that has the Consulate General of Turkiye and Turkiye's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in New York, Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the wake of the recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, a Turkish diplomatic source told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
During the conversation, Fidan expressed Ankara's hope that the Alaska discussions could pave the way toward a negotiated settlement of the Ukraine conflict.
"Minister Fidan said Ankara hopes that the process started in Alaska will lead to a lasting peace with Ukraine's participation, and that Turkiye is ready to contribute to achieving this goal," the source said.
The call followed a summit that ended without a ceasefire but was described as "productive" by both leaders. Reports indicated that Putin and Trump discussed frameworks such as territorial arrangements in eastern Ukraine and possible security guarantees, with Trump insisting that any final outcome would have to involve Kiev directly. He also raised the prospect of a three-way summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though no concrete commitments were made.
Mediation Momentum
Ankara's outreach comes in light of Turkiye's longstanding role as a bridge in the conflict. Since 2022, it has hosted high-level talks in Antalya and Istanbul, brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative that enabled vital Ukrainian exports, and mediated major prisoner exchanges, including the release of Azovstal defenders.
Turkiye's unique position, maintaining open channels with both Moscow and Kiev while being a NATO member, has allowed it to extract limited but meaningful agreements even when broader ceasefire efforts have faltered.
Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that preparations are underway for a potential three-way meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin, with a European location under consideration.
"I think that such a three-way meeting will take place," Merz told German broadcasters NTV and RTL. "The date and place are still to be worked out. We have proposed that a place could be found in Europe," he added.
Read more: Zelensky to meet Trump in Washington Monday
