Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russia's Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that Ankara could help end the Ukraine-Russia war, but Putin's spokesman said Erdogan could not play the role of an intermediary, Reuters reported, UNN reported.
Details
Speaking to Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan, Erdogan said he believes that a just peace that suits both sides is possible, the Turkish president's office said.
However, Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, ruled out the role of mediator for the Turkish leader.
"No, it's not possible," said Peskov, when asked by a Russian television interviewer whether Erdogan could take on such a role, as reported by state-run Russian media. "The news agency's report does not explain why the Kremlin was against Erdogan's participation," the newspaper writes.
Addendum
Turkey is a NATO member. Unlike other NATO leaders who have imposed sanctions on Putin's government, Erdogan has tried to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine, the newspaper writes.
Turkey played a key role in concluding the agreement, which ensured the safe shipment of grain from Ukraine's Black Sea ports. The agreement was in effect for a year.