The war between Russia and Ukraine will end one way or another at the negotiating table, not through successes on the battlefield, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, speaking at a conference on Turkey's foreign policy at a university in Ankara, Anadolu reports.

Cavusoglu recalled that following the meeting of Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in Antalya, as well as a face-to-face meeting of Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul, the sides were close to agreeing on a ceasefire. However, the sides then gave up on dialogue.

"The conditions today are seriously different from those back in March. There are new realities. The situation is more confused, but one should not lose hope," the minister said confidently.

According to him, in case of betting on the military component in Ukraine, "there is a risk that the war could drag on for decades."

The Turkish minister noted that President Erdogan is the only NATO leader who can communicate on a par with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. "Membership in NATO does not imply giving up dialogue with Russia or any other country. It is important to keep the right balance," the minister said.