The Kremlin refuses Erdogan offers to mediate to search for solutions for the Russian-Ukraine conflict
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan offered his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that Ankara would help end the Ukraine-Russian war, but Putin’s spokesman said Erdogan could not play the role of mediator in the 28-month-old conflict.
The Turkish presidency quoted Erdogan as saying during his conversation with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan that he believed it was possible to reach a just peace that would suit both sides.
But Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, ruled out any role as mediator.
The Turkish presidency said the two leaders also discussed the war in Gaza and ways to end the conflict in Syria.
Türkiye is a member of the US-led Western military alliance of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Unlike other NATO leaders who have imposed sanctions on Putin’s government, Erdogan has tried to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Türkiye has played a key role in implementing an agreement that ensures safe shipment of grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports; The agreement remained in force for a year.
