Today, a meeting that stands at the center of the world's diplomatic stage will take place in Ankara. A meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be held in the capital of Turkey. Behind this scene, serious obstacles, alongside practical diplomacy, are also visible.
Let's pay attention to the statements made by the parties before the meeting. The Ukrainian president stated that the main purpose of his visit to Turkey is to create new opportunities for “just peace”.
According to the Turkish government, the meeting will discuss both Turkey-Ukraine bilateral relations and solutions for ending the war.
Russia is not participating in the meeting at a high official level, while American officials will be in Ankara today. This context suggests that the meeting could be a kind of distribution point.
Turkey is located geographically and diplomatically between Europe and Asia, and between Russia and the West. In this regard, it holds a significant role.
In 2022, Turkey mediated the signing of a grain export agreement in the Black Sea region. This experience demonstrates Turkey's role as a “diplomacy platform in wartime”.
Now, ideas such as “The world's eyes are on Ankara” and “Ankara should end this war” resonate as both slogans and aspirations, and as an ideal vision for a diplomatic platform.
In this regard, Ankara has two important roles: to be a diplomatic platform and to open discussions for peace, and to send a message to the world that “we call for dialogue, peace must be possible”.
As a result of the war, cities in Ukraine have been emptied, and hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their country. This demonstrates the geopolitical, strategic, and economic interests behind wars. The arms industry, energy resources, struggles for influence – unfortunately, humanity is relegated to the background in the face of these interests. At this juncture, the Ankara meeting is a diplomatic movement. In fact, it is a humanitarian movement and can be a beacon of light for those bearing the burden of war.
If Turkey and Ukraine establish a new diplomatic mechanism through the meeting, they can then prepare an agreement and propose it to Russia and other international players. Turkey's relations with the West and Russia can create institutional benefits. At the very least, this meeting can send a message to the world that the war cannot continue, and there is no alternative to peace.
After the meeting, Turkey and Ukraine can open a framework for limited agreements such as prisoner exchanges, humanitarian corridors, and a call for a ceasefire at a certain level.
In parallel, Turkey, by keeping its diplomatic channel open within the framework of the “Ankara format”, can subsequently focus on a mediation role with Russia and other parties.
Even if full peace is not achieved in the short term, discussions on security guarantees and the establishment of a “preparation for peace” mechanism may be possible.
Although it may sound a bit romantic, the world is already tired of wars. Humanity demands more life, freedom, and laughter.
Therefore, after this meeting, real diplomatic mechanisms, security guarantees, and humanity-centered steps must come onto the agenda so that this “beginning” does not remain just a word. Otherwise, while speaking of a “new phase of peace”, we will again witness the destruction brought by war.
Sevinc MƏHƏRRƏMOVA
