Putin Meets Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan at Russia-ASEAN Summit in Kazan

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on June 17 in Kazan during the Russia-ASEAN summit. The meeting took place after Fidan had already held separate discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoygu. Putin praised the deepening relationship between Russia and Turkey, stating that bilateral relations "are developing on an upward trajectory" and that contacts between the two countries have transcended purely formal interactions to become genuinely friendly in character. Putin emphasized that this development was largely attributable to the position taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Fidan expressed gratitude for the meeting and conveyed greetings from President Erdogan, emphasizing the importance of Russia's experience in addressing complex regional and global issues. He noted that Turkey's leadership faced "a very saturated international agenda" in both the region and globally, with many pressing matters requiring discussion. The Turkish foreign minister reiterated Turkey's readiness to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, offering to provide a platform for negotiations should both sides agree to talks.

The Ukraine conflict emerged as a significant topic during Fidan's Moscow visit. Lavrov expressed concerns about alleged provocations by Kyiv involving vessels transporting grain to Turkey, as well as threats to the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream pipelines. Shoygu referenced the spring 2022 negotiations in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting that an agreement had been prepared and could have concluded "if not for Western interference." Fidan emphasized Turkey's commitment to working toward a resolution of the conflict through negotiations.

The meeting occurred on the margins of the Russia-ASEAN summit, which runs June 17-18 in Kazan. Putin previously met with the presidents of the Philippines and Brunei and the Prime Minister of Malaysia on the summit's opening day, with additional bilateral meetings scheduled. The plenary session of the Russia-ASEAN summit is scheduled for June 18.