Russian and Turkish Foreign Ministers to Hold Talks in Moscow

Moscow. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will pay a working visit to Moscow from June 15 to 17 at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. During the visit, the two sides are expected to hold broad discussions on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues.

Regular contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are considered important for the steady development of political dialogue between Russia and Türkiye. In 2025, the leaders of the two countries held two face-to-face meetings on the sidelines of major international events.

The foreign ministers of the two countries have also continued the momentum of dialogue established at the highest political level. On April 18, 2026, Lavrov and Fidan held detailed discussions on bilateral and international issues on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Regular consultations are also taking place between the foreign ministries of Russia and Türkiye. The current dialogue is being conducted under the 2026–2027 Consultation Plan between the two foreign ministries, which was signed in Antalya on April 18, 2026.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries also remained active in 2025–2026. On February 26–27, 2025, Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly, paid an official visit to Türkiye.

The upcoming talks in Moscow will address the latest tensions in the Middle East. In particular, the two foreign ministers are expected to discuss the situation arising from the U.S.–Israeli aggression against Iran, as well as prospects for advancing a settlement of the Palestinian issue.

The two sides will also hold an in-depth discussion on developments in the Black Sea region, including issues related to ensuring safe navigation.

Russia and Türkiye have been playing an important role in efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria. Lavrov and Fidan are expected to discuss support for Syria’s new authorities in advancing an inclusive political dialogue and restoring peaceful socio-economic development in the country.

The two ministers also remain committed to maintaining interagency consultations on Libya.

Special attention will also be given to opportunities for expanding cooperation in the South Caucasus. Issues such as unblocking transport routes and communications, advancing post-conflict reconstruction, and making the region peaceful and predictable are matters of shared interest for both Russia and Türkiye.

Both countries believe that peace and stability in the South Caucasus can be promoted through joint efforts within the framework of the 3+3 Regional Cooperation Platform. Russia has welcomed the ongoing process of normalization between Armenia and Türkiye. The Russian side is also interested in discussing the development of integration processes in Central Asia.

Amid continued pressure from Western countries, Russia–Türkiye trade and economic cooperation will also occupy an important place on the agenda. The two ministers are expected to discuss the diversification of bilateral trade and the creation of favorable conditions for improving banking services.

Preparations for the 20th meeting of the Joint Russian-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation will also be discussed.

Energy cooperation will be another important item on the agenda. The two sides are expected to discuss progress in the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the operation of the Blue Stream and TurkStream gas pipelines.

Türkiye remains one of the most popular tourist destinations for Russian citizens. By the end of 2025, Russian citizens once again ranked first among foreign visitors to Türkiye. Around 6.9 million Russian tourists visited the country that year, accounting for approximately 13.1 percent of Türkiye’s total inbound tourism. Therefore, special attention will also be given to issues related to ensuring the safety and security of Russian tourists at Turkish resorts.

The ministerial meeting in Moscow is expected to reaffirm the high level of Russia–Türkiye political dialogue and contribute to the further expansion of cooperation across various areas of mutual interest.