The organization of a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky remains a priority for Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday during telephone talks with the Russian leader.
"President Erdogan said it is important for the parties to act with common sense and maintain dialogue. He also said Turkey wants to crown its peace efforts by organizing a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian presidents Putin and Zelensky," the Turkish president's office said in a statement released.
Erdogan expressed hope for peace in Ukraine due to the constructive course of the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul.
"The meeting of the negotiating delegations of Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul was discussed during the talks. President Erdogan said that the positive and constructive meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul gives hope for peace," the Turkish presidential office said in a statement released.
Meanwhile, Erdogan did not rule out on Friday that a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents could take place in Istanbul.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian leader, earlier did not deny the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, but said it must be prepared to bring results.
Delegations from Moscow and Kiev held face-to-face talks in Istanbul on Tuesday. After the meeting, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that Russia had received written proposals from Ukraine for a treaty between the two sides. He added that Moscow will put forward counter-proposals after considering these initiatives. In addition, the politician said, Moscow makes "two steps towards" Kiev and proposes to hold a meeting of the presidents of Russia and Ukraine Putin and Vladimir Zelensky earlier than planned - simultaneously with the initialing of the peace treaty at the level of the ministries of foreign affairs. And the Russian military will reduce its activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS