Turkey’s president urges end to ‘bloodshed’ in Ukraine
Astana, Oct 13 (EFE).- Turkey’s goal is to help achieve a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine “as soon as possible” despite obstacles on the battlefield, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
“Our goal is to continue the momentum gained despite the difficulties in the field and to stop the bloodshed as soon as possible,” Erdogan said in an address to the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
“We are all closely experiencing the effects of the crisis in Ukraine on a regional and global scale. I always say that a just peace can be established with diplomacy,” he told 20 regional leaders, including Russian president Vladimir Putin, in the Kazakh capital Astana.
Erdogan believes that Ankara and the United Nations’ joint efforts to eliminate the consequences of the Russian invasion of its smaller neighbor are acknowledged by the whole world.
The Turkish leader was referring to the agreement signed by Ukraine, Russia and Turkey on the resumption of grain exports through the Black Sea to help alleviate a global food crisis.
He also underlined the success of the largest prisoner swap between Kyiv and Moscow in September, which saw Ukraine securing the release of over 200 prisoners.
Russia, meanwhile, managed to bring home 55 Russians, including Putin’s close friend, Viktor Medvedchuk.
Turkey, a Nato member, has taken a mediating position between Ukraine and Russia since the invasion began in late February.
Erdogan and Putin are set to meet to discuss the war later in the day, their fourth meeting this year.
Turkish local media has recently reported that Turkey was ready to organize talks between Russia, the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, a plan that has already been submitted to Washington.EFE
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