U.S. seeks Turkey's support for Ukraine, South Caucasus peace

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Turkey to support peace initiatives in Ukraine and the South Caucasus during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Prioritizing cooperation on security and trade, Rubio praised Turkey's leadership in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and emphasized the necessity of a stable and peaceful Syria. He acknowledged recent progress in bilateral trade and called for even closer economic ties between the two nations. Additionally, Rubio expressed concerns regarding recent protests and arrests in Turkey. The discussions also highlighted a potential peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which could unite various regional powers in support of stability. The U.S. State Department has commended the ongoing negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a historic opportunity to resolve long-standing conflicts.