By Seda Sevencan
ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye on Monday officially confirmed that a meeting of the CIA and Russian Foreign Intelligence Service heads was held in the Turkish capital Ankara – a remarkable meeting amid the antipathy between Washington and Moscow over the ongoing Ukraine war.
"We confirm that Türkiye hosted a meeting between the heads of the Russian and US intelligence agencies earlier today,” Fahrettin Altun, the Turkish communications director, told the Associated Press.
Altun added: “Hosted by the (Turkish) National Intelligence Agency, that meeting represents yet another major contribution by Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to global peace.”
The meeting related to threats to international security, starting with the use of nuclear weapons, he noted.
“Having hosted a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers (in March) and facilitated the grain deal (in July), Türkiye will continue to negotiate with all relevant parties for peace and shall not refrain from taking initiative during this process,” he stressed.
Altun underlined that Ankara remains committed to its current policy, which makes it the only country with open channels of communication with all relevant parties.
Earlier, Turkish and US intelligence sources told Anadolu Agency that an undisclosed meeting of the heads of the CIA and the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service was hosted by the Turkish intelligence agency.
Türkiye has been internationally praised for its policy of balance towards Russia amid the Ukraine war, allowing it to broker such breakthroughs as the Black Sea grain corridor deal this summer.
Türkiye has pushed for a cease-fire in the war and expressed firm opposition to any use of nuclear weapons, among apparent hints that such arms could be used.