Turkey FM urges Russia, Ukraine to end ‘bloody war'
'Our aim is to end this bloody war, which has a very high cost, as soon as possible … The ultimate goal is a ceasefire that will pave the way to peace,' Fidan said as he opened the negotiations.
Turkey, which has good relations with both of its Black Sea neighbours, has provided drones for Ukraine and shied away from Western-led sanctions on Moscow.
Fidan thanked Russian and Ukrainian leaders Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky for demonstrating 'the will to hold these talks', as well US President Donald Trump for his calls for an end to the war.
Zelenskiyy says Ukraine, Russia to hold peace talks in Turkey on Wednesday
He said the first and second round of talks, which also took place in Istanbul, achieved 'significant results'.
'We are pleased to see that the prisoner exchanges carried out to date have been appreciated by the international community in terms of their humanitarian outcomes,' he said.
'We also consider it an important development that the parties exchanged memoranda reflecting their perspectives on the ceasefire and peace during the second round of talks,' he added.
'Our hope for this third round of negotiations is that the parties will hold substantive and results-oriented consultations on the memorandums they have exchanged.'
Fidan also said if a ceasefire is agreed, Turkey has 'the necessary infrastructure in place for a monitoring mechanism'.
'The Istanbul talks provide us with an opportunity to show the world that diplomacy and dialogue are more effective than conflict and weapons in securing peace.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Thailand, Cambodia exchange heavy artillery fire as border battle expands
SURIN, (Thailand): Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as fighting intensified and spread, while Cambodia's leader said Thailand had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down. At least 20 people have been killed and more than 130,000 people displaced in the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in 13 years. Both sides have blamed each other for starting the conflict and on Friday ratcheted up the rhetoric. Thailand accused Cambodia of deliberately attacking civilians and Cambodia condemned Thailand for using cluster munitions, controversial and widely condemned. CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said Cambodia had attacked on multiple fronts. 'The situation has intensified and could escalate into a state of war. At present, it's a confrontation involving heavy weapons,' he told reporters. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a social media post that he had agreed to a ceasefire proposed by his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, who had informed him that Phumtham had also agreed. 'However, it is regrettable that just over an hour later, the Thai side informed that they had reversed their position,' Hun Manet said. Thailand's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Anwar said both countries had agreed in principle to stop attacks, but that there were issues related to 'some violations'. He made no mention of a Thai withdrawal. Two senior Thai foreign ministry officials earlier said Bangkok had received offers of mediation from the US, Malaysia and China, but preferred to use bilateral mechanisms. THAILAND ALLEGES 'BARBARIC ACTS' Fighting re-erupted before dawn on Friday, with clashes reported in 12 locations, up from six on Thursday, according to Thailand's military. It accused Cambodia of using artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rockets to attack areas that included schools and hospitals. 'These barbaric acts have senselessly claimed lives and inflicted injuries upon numerous innocent civilians,' it said. 'The deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime and those responsible must be brought to justice.' It put the blame squarely on the Phnom Penh government, which it said was being steered by Hun Sen, influential former premier of nearly four decades and father of Hun Manet. Reuters journalists in Thailand's Surin province saw a Thai military convoy of about a dozen trucks, armoured vehicles and tanks cut across provincial roads ringed by paddy fields as it moved toward the border. Intermittent bursts of explosions could be heard. Soldiers marshalled traffic on a rural road along which artillery guns were being loaded and fired in succession, emitting orange flashes, loud explosions and grey smoke. The fighting started early on Thursday, quickly escalating from small arms fire to heavy shelling in multiple areas 210 km (130 miles) apart along a frontier where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century. Thailand on Thursday deployed an F-16 fighter jet to strike a Cambodian military target, underlining its military advantage. Cambodia has no fighter aircraft and significantly less defence hardware and personnel. It appealed for the UN Security Council to address the issue. PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE REPORTEDLY DAMAGED It said Thailand's bombardments had caused 'significant and visible damage' to the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that both countries have laid claim to for decades. Thailand's military called the allegation 'a clear distortion of facts'. The trigger for the conflict was Thailand recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelling Cambodia's envoy on Wednesday, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops. Cambodia denied that. Cambodia's government on Friday expressed outrage at Thailand's use of what it said was a large amount of cluster munitions, calling it a violation of international law. Thailand's military said Thailand was not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions but that it followed the principle of proportionality, 'to enhance explosive destruction capabilities against military targets only'. The death toll in Thailand rose to 19 on Friday, 13 of them civilians, with 62 people wounded. Cambodia's government has not reported any casualties, but a provincial official said one person had been killed. Thailand has prepared nearly 300 facilities for evacuees, more of which poured into shelters in Surin province after hearing shelling. Elderly people dozed while others queued for food to be served by volunteers as children played outside. Some evacuees sifted through donated clothing, others sat talking on floor mats, recounting how they had fled the fighting. 'We heard very loud explosions, so we came here. We were so scared,' said Aung Ying Yong, 67, wiping away tears with a towel. 'So many people are in trouble because of this war ... we are very sad that we have to live like this.'
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Belated but bold
Listen to article France's decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine is a seismic diplomatic shift in Europe's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While long overdue, this step by President Emmanuel Macron — set to be formalised at the UN General Assembly in September — could prove pivotal for Palestine's position in the international arena. With this announcement, France becomes the most influential European power to break with the Western bloc's longstanding hesitation. While over 140 UN member states already recognise Palestine, key global actors including the US, the UK and Germany continue to withhold recognition, tying it to a final negotiated settlement with Israel — one that grows more elusive by the day. France's move breaks that inertia, foreshadowing that the international community can no longer turn a blind eye to the lopsided nature of the so-called peace process. This recognition also arrives at a time of unprecedented carnage in Gaza. Nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and millions displaced in Israel's relentless assault, while hunger and disease ravage a besieged population. The growing chorus of condemnation, including from Western allies, is a turning tide in international opinion. Critics will rightly say this step comes too late — after decades of occupation, failed negotiations, and now, one of the deadliest conflicts in modern times. But the belated nature of the decision does not diminish its significance. France's stance may spur others, especially within the EU and possibly beyond, to follow suit, bringing greater pressure on Israel to end its genocide. France's step, however delayed, must now become a catalyst for real, sustained international engagement. But recognition must be followed by concrete diplomatic action and, most importantly, an insistence on an immediate ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Thailand, Cambodia exchange heavy artillery as fighting rages for a second day
SURIN: Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, despite calls from the region and beyond for an immediate ceasefire in an escalating border conflict that has killed at least 15 people. Thailand's military reported clashes from before dawn in the Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces and said Cambodia had used artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket systems. Authorities said 100,000 people had been evacuated from conflict areas on the Thai side. 'Cambodian forces have conducted sustained bombardment utilising heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems,' the Thai military said in a statement. 'Thai forces have responded with appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation.' Both sides blamed each other for starting the conflict on Thursday at a disputed border area, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations 209 km (130 miles) apart along a frontier where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century. Reuters journalists in Surin province reported hearing intermittent bursts of explosions on Friday, amid a heavy presence of armed Thai soldiers along roads and gas stations in the largely agrarian area. A Thai military convoy, including around a dozen trucks, armoured vehicles and tanks, cut across provincial roads ringed by paddy fields and moved toward the border. The fighting erupted on Thursday just hours after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh the previous night and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops. Cambodia has dismissed that as baseless. Death toll rises The Thai death toll had risen to 14 as of late Thursday, 13 of them civilians, according to the health ministry. It said 46 people were wounded, including 14 soldiers. Cambodia's national government has not provided details of any casualties or evacuations of civilians. A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest clashes. Thailand F-16 jet bombs Cambodian targets as border clash escalates Meth Meas Pheakdey, spokesperson for the provincial administration of Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, said one civilian had been killed and five were wounded, with 1,500 families evacuated. Thailand had positioned six F-16 fighter jets on Thursday in a rare combat deployment, one of which was mobilised to strike a Cambodian military target, among measures Cambodia called 'reckless and brutal military aggression'. The United States, a long-time treaty ally of Thailand, called for an 'immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution.' Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Thailand and Cambodia are members, said he had spoken to leaders of both countries and urged them to find a peaceful way out. 'I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward. Malaysia stands ready to assist and facilitate this process in the spirit of ASEAN unity and shared responsibility,' he said in a social media post late on Thursday.
