Turkey's Erdogan offers to help end Russia-Ukraine war; Kremlin rules him out as intermediary
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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ANKARA - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on July 3 that Ankara could help end the Ukraine-Russia war, but Mr Putin’s spokesman said Mr Erdogan could not play the role of an intermediary in the 28-month-old conflict.
Mr Erdogan, speaking to Mr Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan, said he believed a fair peace suiting both sides was possible, the Turkish presidency said.
But Mr Putin’s spokesman, Mr Dmitry Peskov, ruled out any role as a go-between for the Turkish leader.
“No, it’s not possible,” said Mr Peskov, when asked by a Russian television interviewer whether Mr Erdogan could assume such a role, according to the Russian Tass news agency.
The news agency’s account did not explain why the Kremlin was opposed to Mr Erdogan’s participation.
The Turkish presidency said the two leaders also discussed the war in Gaza and ways to end the conflict in Syria.
Turkey is a member of Nato, the US-led Western military alliance.
Unlike other Nato leaders, who have imposed sanctions on Mr Putin’s government, Mr Erdogan has tried to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Turkey played a key role in putting in place a deal to ensure grain could be shipped safely from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
The accord remained in effect for a year. REUTERS
