Turkiye continues its active role in resolution of global crises: Communications director

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Turkiye continues to assume an active role in the resolution of global crises and ending regional conflicts, the country’s communications director said on Tuesday.

Ankara "always seeks to provide a roadmap toward building a sustainable global system in the service of peace and stability," Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter, after the latest round of negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations wrapped up in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Noting that Turkiye is "a stabilizing power in its region and around the world" under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Altun said: "In line with this vision, Türkiye is once again doing everything in its power to end the Russia-Ukraine war through effective diplomacy."

He reminded that Erdogan has been “conducting meetings directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin since the first day of the crisis” and the Turkish Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions have been conducting mediation between the two sides.

"These efforts testify to the fact that Türkiye is a power that meets with both sides and brings the parties to the table," the communications director added.

"Our country's successful diplomatic initiative succeeded in bringing the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia together during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum," Altun said. "This was the highest-level meeting between the two foreign ministries since the start of the conflict."

On the latest round of talks that took place in Istanbul, he said: "The meetings between Ukrainian and Russian negotiation teams in Türkiye have given us and the whole world hope of a swift resolution of the crisis."

Altun stressed that Ankara has "no illusions about the prospects about an easy solution" but it will "always push for peace and stability by facilitating and mediating between Ukraine and Russia."

"Our region cannot afford more conflict and humanitarian crises," he said.

He called on all relevant parties to support Turkiye’s diplomatic initiatives.

Russia sent troops into Ukraine in what it called a “special military operation” on Feb. 24. The war has met international outrage and Western countries have implemented tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

Turkiye has won widespread praise for its efforts to end the war, helped by its unique position in having friendly relations with both Russia and Ukraine.

On March 10, it hosted the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in the southern resort city of Antalya, the highest-level meeting of the two sides since the war began.

The fresh round of talks lasted for three hours, and Russian and Ukrainian negotiators later held separate press briefings to inform the world about the outcome.

While Ukraine has called for several countries, including Turkiye, to be guarantors in a possible future peace deal; Russia has announced it will significantly decrease military activities in the direction of the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Chernihiv to increase trust for future negotiations.