Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has urged a ceasefire and better humanitarian conditions during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinRussian missile strikes injured five in western Ukrainian city of Lviv If we delist the IRGC, what will the dictators think? Putin’s war on Ukrainian civilians is not new – nor will it work MORE on Sunday.
Erdogan’s office said he “recognized the importance of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the realization of peace and the improvement of humanitarian conditions in the region,” Reuters reported.
Erdogan’s office also said that the next round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks will be held in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Ukraine’s chief negotiator, David Arakhamia, said earlier on Sunday that the next round of talks would start on Monday.
On Friday, Erdogan told reporters that he plans to ask Putin to make an “honorable exit” from Ukraine during their call, amid growing concerns that the Russian leadership could turn to chemical or biological weapons if the invasion falters.
“We have to look for a way to smooth this deal by saying, ‘Make it an honorable exit,'” he said, according to CNN. “On the other hand, we [Turkey] certainly regard the use of weapons of mass destruction as a crime against humanity.”
Last week, Erdogan told reporters that Ukraine and Russia agree on technical issues but are divided on territorial disputes like Crimea. He said negotiators were able to reach agreement on four of the six main issues raised during the peace talks.
Turkey, a member of NATO, has so far been reluctant to impose sanctions on Russia, with Erdogan saying such measures are impossible for his country due to its dependence on Russian energy.