If, for example, the war resumes in 30 days, why negotiate about it. Fidan

Russia and Ukraine have different demands regarding the potential implementation of a ceasefire, which currently need to be reconciled. This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan while speaking to reporters accompanying him on a train to Ukraine from Poland, where he is making a visit.

“With the start of the negotiation process, I see that the issues are beginning to appear more serious. That is, both sides generally want a ceasefire; no one says they are against it. It will be difficult to explain this to the global community. But on the other hand, both sides have different demands for the ceasefire that are somehow contradictory to each other. When we balance all this, it may be possible to take more concrete steps towards achieving a ceasefire,” Fidan said.

The minister clarified that the Russian side raises the question of what exactly it will gain from a 30-day ceasefire if it begins. “If, for example, the war resumes in 30 days, why negotiate about it? The Russian Federation has certain conditions here. So, the question of why we are negotiating about the ceasefire now is, of course, important and legitimate. In the event of the resumption of war, those conditions are an open territory for negotiations,” Fidan noted.

He believes that the positions of Ukrainians and Russians are initially far from each other, but they can be brought closer together through mediation. “Of course, America also plays an important role here. US President Donald Trump has the will; he wants to see an immediate ceasefire. At this moment, Ukraine and the European side have shown flexibility in adapting to the American position,” he added.