Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine, open humanitarian corridors and signal a peace settlement, his workplace stated.
NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Russia and Ukraine within the Black Sea and has good ties with each. Ankara has referred to as Russia’s invasion unacceptable and supplied to host talks, nevertheless it has opposed sanctions in opposition to Moscow.
In a press release after a one-hour cellphone name, the Turkish presidency stated Erdogan advised Putin that Turkey was able to contribute to a peaceable decision of the battle.
“President Erdogan, who stated an instantaneous ceasefire won’t solely ease humanitarian considerations within the area but additionally give the seek for a political answer a chance, renewed his name of ‘let’s pave the way in which for peace collectively’,” his workplace stated.
“Erdogan emphasised the significance of taking pressing steps to attain a ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors and signal a peace settlement.”
The Kremlin stated Putin advised Erdogan that Russia would solely halt its navy operation if Ukraine stopped preventing and if Moscow’s calls for had been met, including the operation was going to plan. Learn full story
Russia calls its assault a “particular navy operation”. It has uprooted greater than 1.5 million individuals in what the United Nations says is the quickest rising refugee disaster in Europe since World Conflict Two. Learn full story
Turkey has stated it could be “naive” to anticipate outcomes from the Ukraine-Russia negotiations whereas preventing continues.Learn full story
Defence Minister Hulusi Akar later spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov by cellphone and advised him {that a} ceasefire, even for a restricted time, was urgently wanted for protected civilian evacuations and assist shipments, his ministry stated. Learn full story
It added that Akar had additionally conveyed Turkey’s expectation that the protection of Turks not but evacuated or being evacuated is ensured.
Erdogan, who has referred to as Putin a “buddy”, had final spoken to the Russian chief on Feb. 23, a day earlier than Russia launched its invasion. The decision makes Erdogan the third NATO chief to talk to Putin since his offensive, following the leaders of Germany and France.
Whereas forging shut ties with Russia on defence, commerce and power, and internet hosting tens of millions of Russian vacationers yearly, Turkey has additionally offered drones to Ukraine, angering Moscow, and opposes Russian insurance policies in Syria and Libya, in addition to its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Turkey has stated it desires to convey collectively overseas ministers from Ukraine and Russia for talks at a diplomacy discussion board subsequent week in southern Turkey. Each international locations have welcomed the provide, however Ankara says it’s unclear whether or not they are going to be capable to attend.
(Reuters)