Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Russia values Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine.
Lavrov stated that Russia had reminded Türkiye that the root causes of the crisis must be addressed in order to achieve a lasting solution.
Key Statements by Lavrov
We agreed to maintain close cooperation not only on security issues in the Black Sea region but also in the South Caucasus, the Middle East, and North Africa.
We have established good relations with our Turkish counterparts across all these regions. We are working on the basis of mutual complementarity.
The Kiev regime’s attempts to provoke incidents involving grain ships and tankers bound for Türkiye are a source of concern for us.
In addition, the ongoing terrorist threats targeting the TurkStream and Blue Stream natural gas pipelines are also a matter of concern.
From the perspective of U.S. security contributions, it is evident that the Trump administration is currently taking a colder approach toward Europe.
Ukraine’s accession to the European Union will be exploited by those who seek to militarize the EU.
The European Union, which is rehabilitating and legitimizing Nazism, simultaneously claims that President Zelensky is defending European values.
If Ukraine joins the EU, the bloc will simply fall apart.
(Responding to a question about why the West applies double standards toward Israel) The Western world has always been known for its hypocrisy, and those habits have not disappeared.
Fidan: Ending Regional Conflicts Is Essential to Unlock the Full Potential of Bilateral Relations
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also addressed the press conference, highlighting the importance of resolving regional conflicts.
Key Statements by Fidan
Our bilateral cooperation continues. Undoubtedly, ending the conflicts in our region is of great importance if we are to realize the full potential of our bilateral relations. We reiterated our desire for the war in Ukraine to end through peaceful means.
If the parties agree, we are ready to discuss how negotiations can move forward.
(On the Iran–U.S. agreement) Our greatest hope is that this step, which has provided relief to our region and the entire world, will become permanent.
During the sensitive period leading up to the final signatures, it is absolutely essential that Israel refrain from derailing the process. It is also vital that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened as it was before the conflict.
Fidan stated:
“We view the agreement reached between the United States and Iran as an extremely valuable diplomatic milestone for breaking the cycle of conflict in our region.”
The risk of escalation in the Ukraine conflict concerns us, particularly regarding safe navigation in the Black Sea. We discussed what steps could be taken in this regard.
During my discussions with my counterpart, we conveyed that Türkiye is ready to facilitate negotiations on Ukraine. Ankara hopes to bring the parties back to the negotiating table.
We discussed in detail the situation in the South Caucasus and the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This is a crucial issue for peace in the region.
Responding to a question on whether Israel could sabotage the agreement between the United States and Iran, Fidan said:
“Yes, it could. To prevent that from happening, the entire world and the international community must assume responsibility and commitment.”
Regarding a question about the Ukrainian military’s alleged attack on civilians in Starobelsk, Fidan stated:
“Regardless of the circumstances, we have never approved of civilians or civilian settlements being targeted in a war. As a matter of principle, we have always condemned such actions, responded appropriately to every such incident, and will continue to do so.”