Ukraine and Russia ‘in principle’ agree on Zelenskyy-Putin meeting — Turkish FM

Fidan noted that Russia’s war against Ukraine has led to serious regional and global consequences.

"Beyond the humanitarian tragedy, entire cities have been destroyed — that’s one side of it. On the other, we are facing a situation that could escalate into a larger war and cause a rift on the international stage. This is a complex and costly war in which everything is being used except nuclear weapons," the minister added.

He recalled that during the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul this week, the conditions for a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin were discussed.

"In principle, an agreement was reached to hold a summit of the leaders in Türkiye. There is a great deal of work ahead for the negotiating teams," Fidan said.

The Turkish foreign minister also noted that as the talks progress, he sees signs of a willingness to seek compromise. And if the process continues in the same spirit, "an interim solution may be found."

"Everyone has a trump card they’re not revealing. We are trying to create the conditions for that," he added, without specifying what he meant.

Zelenskyy-Putin meeting

Earlier, sources told RBC-Ukraine that for the Ukrainian delegation, the top priority in talks with Russia was organizing a meeting at the level of leaders.

After the negotiations concluded, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, stated that Ukraine had proposed holding a leaders’ summit with Russia by the end of the summer.

It is expected that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump would also take part.

However, the head of the Russian delegation, aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Medinsky, did not give a clear answer on whether Moscow agrees to such a proposal.