Today, Ankara is hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

During a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Lavrov emphasized the importance of Ukraine not joining NATO for the war to stop.

Fidan stated during the press conference that the war negatively affects different regions and must be resolved for a lasting solution. He highlighted Turkey’s commitment to contributing to peace efforts and supporting the US-led peace initiative in Ukraine.

Fidan expressed readiness to host peace talks and ensure security guarantees while also mentioning Turkey’s alignment with Russia on preventing separatist movements in Syria.

Lavrov also addressed the ongoing tensions with Turkey and discussions about the security of the TurkStream pipeline, expressing concerns about terrorist attacks targeting the pipeline.

He stressed that the war cannot end until the root causes are addressed and highlighted the significance of Ukraine not joining NATO. Lavrov also criticized the actions of the Nazi regime in Ukraine and the extensive financial support provided by the Biden administration.

In conclusion, Lavrov mentioned upcoming discussions with the US on resuming embassy activities and the possibility of halting military operations if satisfactory negotiation results are achieved.