In a bold diplomatic move, Türkiye has stepped forward to offer Istanbul as the venue for a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, along with the potential for a summit involving both countries’ leaders. The announcement came from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his address at the TRT World Forum on November 1, 2025, signaling Ankara’s continued commitment to brokering dialogue in the midst of one of Europe’s most entrenched conflicts.
Fidan’s proposal is not without precedent. Türkiye has previously played host to three rounds of Ukraine-Russia negotiations, as well as facilitating prisoner exchanges, all under the banner of the so-called Istanbul Peace Process. According to Yeni Şafak, Fidan told the forum, “We have successfully helped bring them back to the negotiating table through the Istanbul Process.” The sense of urgency and hope in his words was palpable, reflecting a belief that dialogue and diplomacy remain the foundation of Türkiye’s foreign policy.
The Turkish foreign minister’s announcement comes at a time when the international community is closely monitoring the ongoing war in Ukraine, searching for any sign of meaningful progress toward peace. Fidan emphasized Türkiye’s unique position as a nation maintaining constructive relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, a stance that has allowed it to serve as a trusted mediator. “Dialogue and diplomacy will remain the cornerstone of Turkish foreign policy,” Fidan reiterated, underscoring Ankara’s intent to keep channels open even as the conflict drags on.
According to Mezha, Fidan did not stop at offering Istanbul as the site for renewed negotiations. He also proposed a summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a meeting that has long eluded international mediators. The idea is to bring the two leaders face-to-face, should both sides agree, in the hope of breaking the current diplomatic deadlock.
Türkiye’s mediation efforts have already yielded some tangible results. The first round of talks in Istanbul, held on May 16, 2025, saw Ukraine represented by Rustem Umerov, now secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Russia by Vladimir Medinsky and other deputies. The negotiations, conducted under Turkish patronage, ended with an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side and the approval of written proposals for a possible ceasefire. The parties also agreed to meet again, a testament to the trust placed in Türkiye’s facilitation.
The second round, on June 2, 2025, resulted in further agreements: another prisoner exchange, the repatriation of approximately 6,000 bodies, and the consideration of a Russian memorandum outlining conditions for a ceasefire. According to Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister, Serhiy Kislytsia, Russia refused to grant an unconditional ceasefire or to agree to a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin at that stage. Nevertheless, the talks continued under Turkish mediation, with the world watching closely for signs of a breakthrough.
Throughout these negotiations, the question of a direct leaders’ summit has loomed large. Back in August 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to organize such a meeting, engaging both Zelensky and Putin in separate discussions. Zelensky, for his part, expressed willingness to meet “without any conditions,” but the Kremlin was more cautious. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated, “Putin was ready to meet Ukrainian President Zelensky only if all questions at the highest level are thoroughly worked out, and experts and ministers prepare appropriate recommendations.” Lavrov also stressed that any future agreements would require legitimacy from the Ukrainian side, a point that has complicated the path to direct talks.
Despite these hurdles, Türkiye’s diplomatic persistence has kept the door to negotiations ajar. Fidan highlighted the Istanbul Process as a model for constructive engagement, noting that Ankara’s ability to maintain dialogue with both sides has been crucial. “We successfully facilitated their return to the negotiating table through the Istanbul process,” he said at the TRT World Forum, as reported by Yeni Şafak. His words echo Türkiye’s broader philosophy that “stability cannot be imposed; it must be cultivated.”
Fidan’s remarks at the forum also ventured beyond the Ukraine conflict, offering a broader critique of the international system. He argued that global institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, have failed to prevent human suffering in crises like Gaza. “The challenge we face today is not the absence of rules but their unequal application,” Fidan declared, calling for reforms that would replace “privileges for a few” with a framework serving all nations. His criticism was not merely academic; he pointed to the ongoing suffering in Gaza as evidence of systemic failure. According to Fidan, the price of faltering global mechanisms is paid in “human suffering.”
Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts in Gaza, including President Erdoğan’s leadership in forming contact groups and engaging with U.S. President Trump, were credited with helping to achieve the current ceasefire. Fidan stressed that Gaza must ultimately be “governed by Palestinians” and that a just peace requires the implementation of the two-state solution. These positions, while focused on another conflict, reflect Ankara’s guiding principle that sustainable peace is only possible through inclusive dialogue and respect for the rights of all parties involved.
Returning to the Ukraine-Russia context, the international community remains divided on the prospects for peace. While some Western leaders express skepticism about Russia’s intentions, others see value in Türkiye’s approach of persistent engagement. The ongoing prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of war dead, though incremental, are seen as confidence-building measures that could pave the way for more substantive agreements.
For Ukraine, the stakes are high. President Zelensky has repeatedly called for meaningful progress in the talks, emphasizing the urgent need to end the war and secure the country’s sovereignty. Russia, on the other hand, has insisted on thorough preparation and guarantees regarding the legitimacy of any agreements. This tension has made the prospect of a leaders’ summit both tantalizing and fraught with uncertainty.
As of early November 2025, Türkiye’s offer to host a fourth round of talks—and potentially a summit between Zelensky and Putin—remains on the table. The world is waiting to see whether both sides will seize this opportunity to move beyond the current impasse. For now, the Istanbul Process stands as a rare glimmer of hope in a region long overshadowed by conflict and mistrust.
Whether or not the proposed summit materializes, Türkiye’s diplomatic initiative has once again put Istanbul at the heart of efforts to resolve one of the most pressing crises of our time.