Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has told Vladimir Putin that Ankara could help end the conflict in Ukraine.
But a Spokesperson for the Russian President appeared to dismiss the suggestion, saying Mr Erdogan could not act as an intermediary in the war.
Speaking to Mr Putin on the sidelines of a security summit in Astana, Kazakhstan yesterday, Mr Erdogan said he believed a fair peace was possible, with an outcome that suited both sides.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later ruled out any role as a go-between for the Turkish leader.
“No, it’s not possible,” said Mr Peskov, the Russian TASS news agency cited him as saying.
It was not clear why Russia was opposed to participation by Mr Erdogan, who has attempted to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Meanwhile, Presidents Putin and Erdogan have not yet set the dates of the Russian leader’s visit to Turkey as the Russian President’s Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told TASS the timeframe will be agreed via diplomatic channels,
When asked whether the timeframe for the upcoming visit was set during the meeting, Peskov replied that it “will be agreed via diplomatic channels.”
During Wednesday’s meeting, Putin told Erdogan that he would certainly visit Turkey. The sides have been planning the visit for quite a while, but have so far been unable to agree on the date. The Turkish leader said he was expecting his Russian counterpart to visit “within the shortest possible timeframe.”
Putin’s previous visit to Turkey took place in January 2020. The Russian and Turkish Presidents, however, regularly talk to each other, including by phone.