Russia rejects Turkish ceasefire push in Ukraine ahead of Nato summit, sources say

Russia rejects Turkish ceasefire push in Ukraine ahead of Nato summit, sources say Submitted by Levent Kemal on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 09:01 Ankara had hoped a ceasefire could pave the way for Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey during the July Nato summit, but Moscow remains firm on its Donbas demands Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan shake hands during a joint press conference following their talks in Moscow on 27 May 2025 (Pavel Bednyakov/AFP) Off Russia once again rejected a Turkish proposal to declare a ceasefire and open talks between Moscow and Ukraine earlier this month, several sources told Middle East Eye. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the proposal to his Russian counterparts during his visit to Moscow on 16-17 June, Russian and Ukrainian sources with knowledge of the matter told MEE. “Fidan told his counterparts that there should be at least some broad idea of how to return to negotiations, and a window for a ceasefire,” one Russian source said.