According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan told Putin, He said he was “ready to take the initiative to end the war between Russia and Ukraine” and “expressed his desire to establish lasting peace in the region as soon as possible by accelerating the pace of talks in Istanbul.”
A statement from the Turkish leader’s office was added that Putin thanked Erdogan To organize a prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow “which took place in Turkey with the coordination and supervision” of the Turkish intelligence services.
On Wednesday, former US soldier Trevor Reed, who was serving a prison sentence in a criminal colony in the central Russian republic of Mordovia, was exchanged for convicted Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko in the United States.
Just two days ago, on April 26, it was reported that the Turkish president confirmed in an interview with Putin The importance of reaching a ceasefire, effectively establishing humanitarian corridors and carrying out safe evacuations in areas of Ukraine threatened by hostilities.
Erdogan He indicated that his government wanted to organize mediation between the parties to the conflict in Turkey Putin’s meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Kremlin announced that Putin said in an interview with Erdogan that “there is no military operation of the Russian forces in Mariupol”, and that Kyiv should take responsibility for the people hiding there in the metallurgical factories. Azovstal.
Putin also declared that the Ukrainian government should invite the defenders of Mariupol who had taken refuge in Azovstal to lay down their arms. The Kremlin statement also said the presidents discussed “the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.”
