FM Fidan’s diplomatic dialogue with Putin advances bilateral relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on Tuesday, where they discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and regional issues.

According to a post on the official social media account of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fidan was received by President Putin at the Kremlin Palace as part of his visit to attend the BRICS+ meeting and engage in bilateral discussions.

During their meeting, Fidan conveyed the greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to President Putin and expressed satisfaction with the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries. Fidan emphasized the need for further steps to be taken in trade between Türkiye and Russia.

Fidan also reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to continuing diplomatic efforts to mediate in the Ukraine crisis, stating, “We are also determined to continue any possible mediation efforts regarding Ukraine. We are also doing our best to continue the stability policy that you, as two leaders, have put forward regarding Syria.”

Putin, in return, commended Türkiye for its efforts to help resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its initiatives on various regional issues, such as the Black Sea grain corridor and prisoner exchanges.

In addition to discussing these issues, Fidan highlighted several topics he wished to address with Putin during their meeting in Moscow.

In response, Putin expressed Russia’s appreciation for Türkiye’s interest in engaging with the BRICS bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with recent additions including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Putin affirmed Russia’s support for Türkiye’s involvement in BRICS activities, emphasizing the significance of collective action in addressing global challenges.

“We welcome Türkiye’s interest in the work of BRICS. Of course, we will strongly support this desire to be together with the countries of this association, to be together, closer, to solve common problems,” Putin stated.

Türkiye has garnered praise for its ability to engage with all sides of the conflict and its proactive approach to addressing regional challenges.