SOCHI. Sept 4 (Interfax) - Russia is not rejecting mediation efforts on Ukraine but no new initiatives have thus far been discussed with Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We hear there are some new initiatives, but this isn't something that has ever been discussed with us. So there is nothing new we are perceiving. As regards mediation efforts, we have never rejected them," Putin told reporters following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.
Erdogan has always paid great attention to efforts "to settle the crisis around Ukraine," including during Monday's talks in Sochi, he said.
"We know that it was under the mediation of the Turkish president that the agreement was reached, and draft documents agreed upon between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, but then Ukraine consigned them to the trash heap. Well, nobody is returning to that," Putin said.
Russia is aware of the mediation initiatives of China, several African nations and, naturally, is grateful to Erdogan for efforts in this regard, he said.