Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has urged for an “immediate” ceasefire in Ukraine, highlighting the urgent necessity to conclude the conflict and alleviate its extensive repercussions. His comments were made during a joint press conference with Belgian Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin, which was streamed live on X by the Hurriyet news outlet on Thursday.

Fidan pointed out that the ongoing conflict has led to catastrophic outcomes, including the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and the devastation of an entire nation.

“We seek an immediate ceasefire and peace in Ukraine,” he declared.

The minister also noted the broader implications of the conflict, such as migration issues, economic challenges, and overall instability in Europe.

“The migration resulting from this war, along with the economic crises and other challenges facing Europe and the world, must be resolved as soon as possible,” he stressed.

Fidan mentioned that he discussed the conflict and strategies to tackle its humanitarian and economic consequences with his Belgian counterpart, who is on an official visit to Türkiye. He emphasized the importance of ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve peace.

Fidan’s remarks illustrate Türkiye’s enduring stance on the conflict. The nation facilitated the initial, albeit unsuccessful, peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, shortly after hostilities commenced. During those discussions, Moscow and Kiev reached a preliminary draft for a truce, wherein Ukraine would forgo its NATO membership aspirations, declare neutrality, and restrict the size of its military forces in return for international security assurances.

Nevertheless, the negotiations ultimately collapsed. Last month, veteran Swiss diplomat Jean-Daniel Ruch claimed that the “Americans and their British allies” intervened to obstruct the agreement, aiming to undermine Moscow.

In the aftermath of the failed negotiations, Ankara has kept open lines of communication with both nations and has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution. In his New Year’s address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that resolving the Ukraine conflict is a top priority for Türkiye in 2025.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with Kiev based on the draft agreement established during the talks in Türkiye. However, he has asserted that any peace resolution must commence with Ukraine halting military actions and recognizing the “territorial reality” that it will not regain control over the regions that opted to join Russia.