Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday renewed Ankara's offer to mediate between Russia and Ukraine while warning against actions in the Black Sea that could undermine regional stability and threaten Türkiye's national interests.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Fidan said Turkey remains committed to facilitating dialogue aimed at ending the conflict that has entered its fifth year.

"The priority for us is for the parties to resume negotiations and end the war as soon as possible," Fidan said, reiterating Ankara's readiness to host future rounds of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

"I conveyed our readiness to host the next rounds of talks once again. If the sides agree, we are also prepared to discuss how negotiations can continue in a more result-oriented manner," he stated.

Black Sea Security Concerns

Fidan stressed that recent developments in the Black Sea had become a source of growing concern for Ankara, particularly following a series of incidents involving commercial shipping near Türkiye's northern coastline.

In recent months, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of carrying out drone attacks against tankers operating in the Black Sea, including an incident involving a Turkish-owned vessel. Turkish authorities lodged formal protests with both sides over the attacks.

"I conveyed to my counterpart our expectation to avoid any incidents that could harm our country's interests in the Black Sea," Fidan said, noting that he and Lavrov had discussed possible measures to improve navigational safety in the strategically important waterway.

Türkiye has consistently opposed attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure throughout the conflict, he added.

Ankara Positions Itself as a Mediator

Since Russia launched its full-scale military operation against Ukraine in 2022, Türkiye has maintained diplomatic relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, allowing it to play a unique intermediary role.

Ankara hosted the first direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations during the early stages of the war and later helped broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which facilitated the export of Ukrainian agricultural products through the Black Sea.

In April, Ukrainian officials formally requested that Türkiye host a leaders-level meeting between the two sides in an effort to revive stalled peace efforts.

Diplomatic sources indicated that during his Moscow visit, Fidan is also expected to discuss proposals aimed at preventing further escalation in the Black Sea, including mechanisms to safeguard ports, shipping routes and energy infrastructure.

Visit Ahead of NATO Summit

Fidan's visit comes just weeks before Türkiye hosts the NATO Summit in Ankara on July 7–8, an event expected to focus heavily on the war in Ukraine, European security and regional stability.

Beyond Ukraine, the Turkish and Russian foreign ministers were also expected to address developments in the Middle East, Syria, the South Caucasus, energy cooperation and bilateral economic ties.

As fighting continues and diplomatic efforts remain fragile, Türkiye appears determined to preserve its role as one of the few countries capable of maintaining open channels with both Kyiv and Moscow while seeking to prevent the Black Sea from becoming an even more dangerous flashpoint. (ILKHA)