Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his official visit to Ukraine, reaffirming Türkiye's commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, President Zelenskyy thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for inviting Ukraine to the NATO Summit in Ankara and expressed appreciation for Türkiye's continued support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

In recognition of his contributions to bilateral relations, Zelenskyy presented Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan with the Order of Merit, II Class, one of Ukraine's state honors.

The talks focused on the latest diplomatic developments surrounding the war and ways to revitalize international efforts to achieve a lasting peace. Fidan briefed the Ukrainian leader on Türkiye's ongoing diplomatic initiatives and mediation efforts aimed at facilitating dialogue between the parties to the conflict.

Türkiye has repeatedly emphasized the importance of diplomacy and has hosted several rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since the conflict began, while maintaining communication channels with both sides.

"We have held several meetings in Türkiye, and we truly want peace for our country. I hope that together we will be able to do everything possible to stop this war," Zelenskyy said during the meeting.

The Ukrainian president also briefed Fidan on the latest developments on the battlefield, Ukraine's military posture, and the broader security situation. The two sides exchanged views on sanctions targeting Russia and discussed political developments ahead of Russia's parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place in two months.

Economic cooperation also featured prominently on the agenda. Fidan and Zelenskyy discussed the implementation of the Türkiye–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, following its ratification by Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada on July 14. The agreement is expected to deepen bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

Fidan, in turn, thanked Ukraine for the strong bilateral cooperation across various sectors and reiterated Türkiye's commitment to expanding relations while continuing its diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.

The meeting underscored Ankara's active diplomatic role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as Türkiye continues to advocate for a negotiated settlement while maintaining close political and economic ties with both Kyiv and Moscow. (ILKHA)