Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to visit Türkiye on Monday, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

During his visit, Lavrov will meet with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and other key issues, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Türkiye, a NATO member, has expressed its desire to play a central role in facilitating peace talks and bringing an end to the hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv. In March 2022, Türkiye hosted direct negotiations between the two sides in an effort to mediate a resolution.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, reiterated that Türkiye would be an "ideal host" for further discussions involving not only Moscow and Kyiv but also Washington.

The upcoming diplomatic engagement comes at a time of evolving relations between Russia and the United States. Recently, US and Russian officials held talks in Saudi Arabia to begin rebuilding their bilateral relationship, a move that was met with criticism from Zelensky, who expressed concerns over the potential for an agreement on Ukraine being reached without Ukrainian representation at the table.

Lavrov’s visit to Türkiye follows his trip to the country in October 2024 and will also include a visit to Russia's ally, Iran, as part of his diplomatic efforts in the region. (ILKHA)