Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks on Monday.
Erdogan told the Russian President that Turkey was ready to host peace talks in Istanbul and that Turkey could assume a role in an “observation mechanism” in Ukraine as a possible part of a peace settlement, according to the Turkish president’s office.
“Mr. Erdogan noted the need for steps that would minimize the negative effects of the conflict and build trust by restoring as soon as possible the ground for peace between Russia and Ukraine,” the statement said.
Also touching on developments in the northern Syria border region, where attacks by the terror group YPG/PKK on civilians and neighboring Turkey continue, Erdogan said that a 30-kilometer safe zone stipulated under 2019 pacts with the US and Russia was never established. The regions along the border liberated from terrorists must be made safe and secure, he added.
Turkey hosted two rounds of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in March. Erdogan has repeatedly expressed a desire to broker a peace deal by hosting a summit between Russia and Ukraine’s presidents in Istanbul.
