Nato member Türkiye, led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
It has maintained cordial ties with both sides and has voiced support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provided it with military help, while opposing western sanctions on Russia.
Erdoğan on Sunday told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that a “historic turning point” had been reached in efforts to end the war, according to the Turkish president’s office.
In a phone call, Erdoğan was quoted as having told Macron:
A historic turning point has been reached in efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, that this opportunity must be seized, and that Türkiye is ready to provide all kinds of support, including hosting negotiations, to achieve a ceasefire and lasting peace.
As a reminder, Russian president Vladimir Putin said the proposed talks with Ukraine – to “solve the root causes of the conflict” - should be held in the Turkish city of Istanbul on 15 May, as they have been before.