In call with Putin, Turkey’s Erdogan stresses need for ceasefire

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a telephone call on Sunday that a ceasefire and better humanitarian conditions were needed following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, his office said in a statement.

“Erdogan noted the importance of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the implementation of peace and the improvement of humanitarian conditions in the region,” his office said in a readout of the call. It added they agreed the next round of peace committee talks between Ukraine and Russia would be held in Istanbul.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister who held a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday, said Turkey is aware of the trust and responsibility when it comes to the planned Ukraine-Russia meetings in Turkey. “We hope that the meetings will result in a permanent ceasefire and lead to peace,” Cavusoglu said on Twitter.

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said the next round of face to face talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place in Turkey on March 28-30.