Ankara, November 30, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made Ankara’s aspirations for European Union membership “perfectly clear,” emphasizing that the next step must come from Brussels. He stressed that “a political will in Europe” in favor of Türkiye’s accession would be sufficient to resolve the outstanding issues hindering progress.
In an interview with German newspaper Welt am Sonntag during his visit to Berlin, Fidan said both Russia and Ukraine appear “more prepared for peace” than they were in the early stages of the war. He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to accept a ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement under certain conditions” and that these positions have been conveyed to Kyiv. Türkiye, he added, is involved in aspects of these ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Addressing discussions over potential security guarantees for Ukraine, Fidan underscored a key distinction between deploying NATO troops and establishing non-NATO international observer missions. He said the most sensitive issue concerns a possible U.S. security guarantee comparable to NATO’s Article 5 commitment, while European states maintain that Ukraine should make its own sovereign decisions on such matters. Russia, he added, views the upper threshold of any settlement as part of its own security guarantee.
Fidan said that any eventual peace arrangement must ensure lasting stability not only for Ukraine but for the entire European continent. He stressed that proposed provisions should include “explicit commitments” preventing either side from attacking the other “for any reason,” a formula he said could secure decades of peace.
Responding to questions on hybrid threats attributed to Russia — including cyberattacks and incidents involving critical infrastructure — Fidan said Türkiye has confronted Russia directly in several conflict zones while still maintaining channels of dialogue. Türkiye reacts firmly when its interests are threatened, he noted, but cannot afford permanent confrontations with neighboring states.
On Europe’s broader security architecture, Fidan highlighted three key areas: the NATO-centered framework; the need to strengthen Europe’s defense industry, which the conflict in Ukraine exposed as inadequate; and continued debate over the future of U.S. engagement in European security. He said countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Türkiye, and Italy should play a guiding role in shaping this discussion.
Regarding Türkiye’s EU accession process, Fidan reiterated Ankara’s commitment to full membership and called for renewed, objective progress in opening negotiation chapters. He said previous blockages were driven by political decisions within certain EU member states rather than technical criteria.
Turning to developments in Syria, Fidan said the country is gradually emerging from years of economic crisis and conflict. He noted that around 500,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned from Türkiye to their homeland. However, he warned that regional efforts to stabilize Syria face emerging risks linked to the current actions of Israel.
