Turkey is ready to host talks for a ceasefire and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today in a telephone conversation with his counterparts from Russia and France, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, Reuters reported, citing Erdogan's office, BTA reports.
The proposal for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul was made early today by Russian President Vladimir Putin. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev is ready for talks with Moscow, as long as Russia first agrees to a ceasefire on May 12, as requested yesterday in Kiev by the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland. They also said that their request has the support of US President Donald Trump.
In his conversation with Macron, Erdogan said that a "historic turning point" had been reached to end the war and that this opportunity should be used.
He said that Turkey was ready to contribute everything it could to achieving a ceasefire and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, including hosting the talks.