According to the interlocutors, Fidan will be in Russia on May 26 and 27, where he will receive an illegitimate Russian president Vladimir Putin. The minister will also hold a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The head of Turkish diplomacy intends to confirm the readiness of his country to be an intermediary in peace negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, as was the case in 2022 and 2025.
Fidan also planned negotiations with other Russian officials, including Putin’s assistant Vladimir Medinsky, who headed the delegation of the aggressor country at negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16. He will also meet with the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov.
In addition, as part of the visit, the parties plan to discuss Turkish-Russian relations, in particular, cooperation in the fields of trade, energy and tourism, as well as regional issues (Syria, Gaza sector, South Caucasus).
The agency recalled that Fidan visited Russia in June 2024, where he took part in a meeting of BRICS – the interstate alliance of the five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. He also accompanied Turkish President Recep Erdogan at the Brix summit in October.
Context
On May 16, negotiations between the delegations of the Russian Federation and Ukraine were held in Istanbul (Türkiye), Vladimir Medinsky headed the Russian delegation. The result of the meeting was the exchange of prisoners in the “1000 per 1000” format, which began on May 23.
The interlocutor in Ukrainian diplomacy told Sky News that in the negotiations in Istanbul The Russian Federation demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the “its territories” for the ceasefire (which exactly was discussed, the channel did not specify). There were other requirements that cannot be fulfilled.
According to the informed interlocutor, who was referred to by the journalist The Economist Oliver Carroll, the Russian delegation also threatened to seize the Kharkov or Sumy region. Medinsky said that the Russian Federation could supposedly fight forever. In addition, the interlocutor of the “suspension” said that the delegation of the Russian Federation was made a demand to recognize Crimea by the Russian one.
