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ISTANBUL

The second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks began Monday in Istanbul, with Türkiye acting as the facilitator.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivered the opening speech at the meeting, which brought together delegations from Russia and Ukraine at the historic Ciragan Palace.

Fidan said the priority is to achieve lasting peace between the two countries, which will also help address many global issues such as energy, food, and transportation security.

“Türkiye stands ready to take any step necessary to facilitate the process,” he stated. "The trust these two countries place in Türkiye, with whom we share strong historical, cultural, economic, and political ties in the same region, is deeply valuable to us."

He said diplomatic contacts continue based on the shared commitment of leaders, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintaining regular communication with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to advance the peace process.

Fidan thanked the parties for their constructive approach at the May 16 meeting, saying: “The parties took significant steps to implement the decisions made during the first meeting. The exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side was completed quickly. Both sides have stated their positions on a ceasefire and subsequent steps as promised.”

The Turkish foreign minister mentioned that the current talks aim to further discuss the conditions and perspectives regarding a ceasefire, while also seeking to advance the prisoner exchange process on humanitarian grounds. Preparations for an expected future leaders’ summit are also underway, he said.

He also emphasized that US support for the talks is "extremely important," adding that US President Donald Trump’s commitment to peace has opened a "new window of opportunity."

Fidan is chairing the trilateral meeting, joined by Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization Chief Ibrahim Kalin and Chief of the General Staff Gen. Metin Gurak.

This meeting marks the second round of negotiations hosted by Türkiye, following the May 16 session in Istanbul, where the parties agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each and outlined their positions on a potential cease-fire. The sides also committed to continuing dialogue to de-escalate the ongoing conflict. Ankara has maintained close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war and has repeatedly offered its mediation to facilitate dialogue and peace efforts.