Turkey and Hungary See Ukraine War Near a Pause, Raise Prospect of New Talks

Overview

• Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said the conflict is at its closest point to a pause and expressed confidence a new round of negotiations could be held in Turkey or elsewhere.
• He said the U.S. and recent European visitors to Ankara now support ending the fighting, while both sides intensify strikes on energy infrastructure and conduct a growing drone war heading into winter.
• Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban said “we are very close to peace” and argued progress depends on a unified Western position, adding he believes Vladimir Putin is interested in talks.
• The Times, citing Ukrainian deputy foreign minister Serhiy Kyslytsia, previously reported the talks had been put on hold, and Russia’s Maria Zakharova accused Kyiv of completing less than 30% of a 1,200-person exchange.
• Three rounds of direct talks in Istanbul yielded prisoner exchanges and draft memorandums, but they did not produce a cease-fire and no date for new negotiations has been set.