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Kremlin unveils details of the Putin-Erdogan conversation

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia

05 January 2023 15:00 (UTC +04:00)

Presidents of Russia and Turkiye, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held a phone conversation, APA's Moscow correspondent reports.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Vladimir Putin in a phone call that peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war should be supported by a unilateral ceasefire and a "vision for a fair solution," the Turkish presidency said on Thursday.

Erdogan and the Russian president have spoken repeatedly since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February. Turkey acted as a mediator alongside the United Nations to set up a deal allowing grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

"President Erdogan said calls for peace and negotiations should be supported by a unilateral ceasefire and a vision for a fair solution," the readout said, adding that Erdogan reminded Putin of the positive outcomes of the grains corridor deal.

Ukraine is a major global grain producer and exporter, but production and exports have fallen since Russia invaded and started blockading its seaports.

The two leaders also discussed Syria, with Erdogan telling Putin that concrete steps needed to be taken to clear Kurdish militants from the Syrian border region, the readout said.

"President Erdogan emphasized that concrete steps should now be taken to clear the terrorist organization PKK/PYD/YPG from Turkey's border regions, especially Tel Rifat and Manbij," it said.