The offer for a meeting in Istanbul is still valid.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said “positive and constructive” talks between Russia and Ukraine this week in Istanbul had raised hopes for peace.
A statement from Turkey’s Communications Directorate said President Erdogan also reiterated his offer to host Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for talks on securing peace between Moscow and Kiev.
Putin thanked President Erdogan for hosting peace talks in Istanbul, the statement added.
Talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul this Tuesday were seen as a breakthrough in efforts to stop hostilities that, according to the latest UN figures, have claimed the lives of at least 1,232 civilians and left 1,935 others injured from February 24th.
After the Istanbul meeting, a Ukrainian negotiator said that Kiev wants Turkey among the countries that will be guarantors in any agreement with Moscow.
Earlier in the month, Turkey also convened the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in the city of Antalya, the first meeting of senior government officials from both sides since the start of the war.
