Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Turkey-Russia Ties

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan concluded a two-day diplomatic visit to Russia, emphasizing Ankara's commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Moscow. Following meetings in both Moscow and Kazan with senior Russian officials, Fidan stated that Turkey and Russia would continue joint efforts to strengthen their relationship, which he characterized as deeply rooted in history and built on goodwill between the two nations' leaders, strong economic cooperation, and human ties.

During his visit, Fidan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to whom he conveyed messages from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and received Putin's assessments of regional issues. He also held comprehensive consultations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and met with key figures including Russia's chief Ukraine negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergey Naryshkin, and General Igor Kostyukov of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff. These discussions covered areas for expanding bilateral cooperation and addressed regional concerns.

Fidan expressed Turkey's hope that the war between Russia and Ukraine will be resolved through negotiations, reiterating Ankara's readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in organizing further peace talks. He also reiterated Turkish support for efforts to establish peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus, highlighting the potential of the 3+3 regional cooperation platform. Fidan emphasized that strong Turkey-Russia relations are crucial for international security, stability, and prosperity.