Serkan Demirtas – Ankara
Diplomatic sources said Turkey is expected to reiterate its readiness to contribute to a just and lasting peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine at the two-day summit in Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the Ukrainian Peace Summit in Bern, Switzerland, on June 15-16. About 100 countries will participate in the summit, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the summit, to which Russia has not been invited. China has said it will not attend the summit due to Russia's absence.
Diplomatic sources said Fidan will address the summit and highlight six key points regarding the ongoing war between Turkey's two northern neighbours.
Fidan first points out that the destructive impact of the conflict on Ukraine is not only growing, but also on a global and regional scale. The war launched by Russia in 2022 has caused the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and destroyed the country's infrastructure in many regions. In addition, about 4.3 million Ukrainians have had to flee the country.
Secondly, Foreign Minister Fidan will warn participants against the escalation of hostilities and the possible use of weapons of mass destruction. During the summit, Turkey's top diplomat will reiterate Turkey's unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.
The summit is supposed to bring together the two opposing forces.
Another key point Fidan will make about the summit is that these efforts are more likely to produce positive results if both warring parties are involved. Ankara has long urged the international community to allow Russia to attend the summit, but Ukraine and other organizers have insisted that the summit is primarily about drawing up a roadmap and principles for peace.
In his address at the summit, Fidan will recall that Turkey brought together senior Russian and Ukrainian officials to mediate direct negotiations in Istanbul in March 2022. He will also recall that the Turkey-led Black Sea Grains Initiative has resulted in the shipment of more than 34 million tonnes of food products to global markets between 2022 and 2023.
The foreign minister is also expected to underscore Ankara's support for ending the ongoing war through diplomacy and negotiations, as well as its readiness to contribute to international efforts towards a just and lasting solution.
