Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on May 28, 2025, that Ankara is willing to host a trilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The proposal, made during a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, aims to leverage Turkey’s neutral stance and prior mediation role, including the 2022 Istanbul talks and the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Fidan emphasized Turkey’s strategic position as a NATO member with ties to both Moscow and Kyiv, making it a suitable venue for high-stakes diplomacy.
The offer follows Zelensky’s May 26 call for a meeting with Trump and Putin, which the Kremlin rejected, insisting on negotiations aligned with Russia’s terms, including Ukraine ceding occupied territories. Trump, who campaigned on ending the war quickly, has expressed openness to talks but proposed controversial ideas like a Gaza-style “freedom zone” for Ukraine, drawing skepticism. Turkey’s initiative includes hosting preparatory talks in Antalya, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally engaging leaders to ensure attendance. Fidan stressed the need for a ceasefire, citing 500,000 deaths and 12 million displaced since February 2022.
The proposal has received cautious support from the EU and UN, though analysts doubt Russia’s willingness to compromise. Ukraine welcomed Turkey’s mediation but insisted on territorial integrity. The U.S. has not formally responded, but Trump’s advisors suggest he prefers bilateral talks with Putin. Turkey’s role as a mediator faces challenges, including balancing NATO commitments with its economic ties to Russia. The initiative reflects Ankara’s ambition to play a global diplomatic role, with the war’s resolution critical to regional stability and energy markets.
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