Turkish FM Fidan: Europe must rebuild ties with Russia after Ukraine conflict ends

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Europe and Russia will need to rebuild their relations on a new and constructive basis once the conflict in Ukraine ends. Speaking to Turkish media after a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in the United States, he said Russia and Ukraine must reach a peace agreement and that Europe also needs to reconcile with Russia.

Fidan said the Ukraine conflict is seriously harming the world economy. He said European countries had long tried to downplay the economic and social consequences of the conflict, but that it is now affecting political power in European capitals. He also pointed to a supply crisis caused by the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, and recalled that Europe had previously bought Russian energy resources, used them to produce goods and sold those products.

Fidan said no one can fully calculate the economic cost of trade disruptions. He cited the German chancellor's statement that Europe faces losses of 100 billion euros in the energy sector alone. He also stressed that disagreements between the United States and Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, must be resolved as quickly as possible so vital trade routes can reopen.