Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country has prepared the ground for talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul and that these talks are a step towards lasting peace. He told journalists from his pool after returning from Albania.
„The meeting of the delegations of the two countries [Russia and Ukraine] in Istanbul is extremely important for ending the war that began on February 24, 2022, and for establishing peace in the region. From the very beginning, we have been making intensive efforts to end the war. These talks were planned through our efforts as an important step that will ultimately open the doors to peace. As Turkey, we strive for a just and lasting peace. "We are not only calling for an end to the war, but we are also proposing methods, preparing the ground," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anadolu Agency.