Turkey is prepared to make any contribution necessary for a rapid and peaceful solution in Ukraine, Erdogan told Putin.
According to Ahval the Turkish president also repeated a call for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds, and urgent steps towards a peace treaty.
Putin informed Erdogan on the developments in “the special military operation to protect Donbass” against “nationalist and neo-Nazi groups”, Sputnik Turkey reported.
Russia launched an attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24, and recognised the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine. It has since faced diverse and severe sanctions by the EU and the United States.
Putin also said Ukraine was trying to prolong the negotiation process to use the time to regroup, and that he hopes Ukrainian officials will “put forth a more constructive attitude and fully include current facts in their analyses”.
According to the Kremlin statement, as cited by Sputnik, Erdogan relayed to Putin his criticism of “discriminatory campaigns against Russia’s culture and Russian cultural figures that have accelerated in some western countries”.
Russia is ready to support Turkey in any way necessary to evacuate Turkish citizens in the conflict zone, it said.
Having strong ties and a maritime border with both countries, Turkey is seeking a balanced approach in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and offers to host peace talks.
Ahead of Sunday’s phone call, Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Russia having a reliable counterpart to talk to was important after the West “burned bridges” with Moscow.
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