Turkiye 'ideal' mediator between Ukraine, Russia: Turkish FM

ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that Turkiye is well-positioned to serve as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, offering a neutral ground for peace negotiations.

Fidan made the remarks to Turkish media while traveling from Poland to Kyiv, where he is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other high-level officials.

"Given the circumstances, the parties need a place where they can come face to face and negotiate around a table. In this regard, Turkiye is actually an ideal actor," Fidan was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Fidan said he would present Turkiye's position on the conflict and emphasize the urgent need for a ceasefire during his meetings in Kyiv. "As long as negotiations begin, the situation takes an optimistic turn," he said.

"Both sides have different ceasefire demands. These demands need to be reconciled -- that's what negotiation and mediation are for," the minister said.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held in Istanbul on June 2.

The two countries held their latest round of direct talks on May 16 -- their first face-to-face negotiations since March 2022 -- in Istanbul, but the meeting ended without a ceasefire agreement.