Moscow will only welcome if Turkey's partners can encourage Kiev to implement the Minsk agreements, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, commenting on Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's offer to host talks between Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky.
"Of course, we welcome the efforts of any countries that can help resolve the situation in Ukraine. The main disagreements between Russia and Ukraine are precisely related to the stalling of the process of implementing the Minsk agreements on the part of Kiev. If our Turkish partners can influence the Ukrainians and encourage them to fulfill their earlier agreements and obligations, this will only be welcome," he said.
"The place of some contacts is secondary. The main thing is to influence Ukraine after all," Peskov stressed.
Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish leader spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that Erdogan had invited Putin and Zelensky to Turkey to "settle differences" between the two countries. He also said that Erdogan "will travel to Ukraine in the next few weeks for talks with Zelensky."
The Turkish president has repeatedly stated his desire to participate in resolving the crisis between Russia and Ukraine last year. During telephone talks in December 2021, Putin pointed out to Erdogan that Ukraine was continuing a destructive line aimed at derailing the Minsk agreements.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS