Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that constructive relations between Russia and Europe must be restored following a Ukrainian peace agreement, according to remarks published by Anadolu Agency on November 1. The comments followed the G20 ministerial meeting in the United States.
Fidan emphasized that post-conflict, European nations would need to reevaluate their relationship with Russia beyond Ukraine’s bilateral settlement. “The peace between Ukraine and Russia is not limited only to these two countries,” he said. “Europe also needs to come to terms with Russia in a certain sense. It is necessary to restart certain relationships.”
He highlighted the escalating economic toll of the conflict, noting that supply disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz—linked to tensions involving Iran and the United States—threaten global trade routes. Fidan stressed that Europe’s reliance on Russian energy resources for industrial operations had created deep interdependencies previously undervalued by policymakers. “The European economy and industry received energy resources from Russia, on this basis they produced products, sold them, and other economic activities arose,” he explained.
According to the minister, violations of international trade have amplified damage. Citing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s estimate of €100 billion in energy-related costs for Europe, Fidan warned that total losses—including secondary effects—could be substantially higher. “No one can fully calculate the cost of disruptions in trade,” he said.
Fidan also urged swift resolution of U.S.-Iran disputes to reopen critical shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz. He concluded: “All of this needs to be fixed as soon as possible so that these critically important trade routes can reopen.”
Separately, Finnish President Alexander Stubb described recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a turning point for understanding Moscow’s assessment of the war zone. Norway and Finland, both aligned with Ukraine support, had initiated direct communication with Putin in late October to discuss crisis resolution pathways, including potential trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi this fall. Russia welcomed these outreach efforts as “correct” steps toward restoring European relations.
