Turkish FM Hakan Fidan Meets Putin in Moscow to Advance Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

In a renewed diplomatic push to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 26, following a historic round of talks between the two warring parties held in Istanbul earlier this month.

According to diplomatic sources, the Putin-Fidan meeting, which began at 7:30 p.m. local time and lasted for about an hour, focused on peace initiatives and developments since the Istanbul negotiations on May 16. Bilateral topics in the economic and energy sectors were also discussed.

High-Level Engagements in Moscow

Fidan’s two-day visit to Moscow, as announced by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, included meetings with top Russian officials on the first day, such as:

• Vladimir Medinsky, aide to Putin and former culture minister

• Sergey Narishkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service

On May 27, Fidan is scheduled to meet his counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to continue discussions on bilateral ties, regional dynamics, and especially the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Türkiye as a “Constructive Mediator”

Fidan’s trip follows Türkiye’s hosting of the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in three years, held in Istanbul on May 16. The dialogue marked a significant step in Ankara’s effort to act as a neutral and trusted broker in the conflict.

Ahead of Fidan’s visit, Kremlin spokesman Sergey Peskov expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s mediation efforts.

“We are grateful to Türkiye for providing ideal conditions for the negotiations in Istanbul,” Peskov said, emphasizing that the Ukraine issue would top the agenda in talks with the Turkish delegation.

However, Peskov noted that while both sides are open to dialogue, the path toward a second round of talks remains uncertain.

Erdoğan Reinforces Mediation Role

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly signaled Türkiye’s commitment to facilitating peace. In recent calls with U.S. President Donald Trump, President Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited Ankara in mid-May, Erdoğan reiterated Ankara’s readiness to contribute to regional stability.

Turkish officials have described Türkiye’s role as that of an “honest broker”, balancing diplomatic ties with both Moscow and Kyiv while promoting de-escalation.

As conflict continues to strain global geopolitics, Türkiye’s diplomatic momentum—anchored by Fidan’s high-level meetings in Moscow—signals a renewed push for ceasefire and dialogue, with Istanbul potentially serving again as the next venue for peace.