Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is arriving in Ukraine today, stated that both Russia and Ukraine “desire a ceasefire” and must now share their negotiating positions.
“I see a more optimistic development as negotiations are starting. Both sides are looking for a ceasefire, and there are no objections to it,” Fidan mentioned during his train journey to Kyiv, as reported by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency.
Moscow has proposed that Kyiv participate in new talks on Monday in Istanbul, following an initial meeting in that city on May 16.
Ukraine has expressed its “readiness” to engage, provided it understands Russia’s conditions for facilitating “a constructive discussion.”
This week, Fidan visited Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Today, he is set to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials, including the defense and foreign ministers.
“Turkey is a key player,” he emphasized, noting that Moscow’s proposal for a new meeting followed his visit.
“There’s no indication that anyone opposes a ceasefire, although announcing it might not be straightforward,” Fidan stated.
He also acknowledged that “the two parties hold different demands.”
“These differences need to be reconciled. That’s the essence of negotiation and mediation,” he concluded.
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