BAKU. May 16 (Interfax) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul as critically important from the standpoint of a ceasefire and laying the groundwork for an ultimate peace.
"As always, a ceasefire remains a priority in mediating efforts on Ukraine," the Azerbaijani news agency Report quoted Erdogan as saying while speaking at a plenary session of the European Political Community summit in Albania's Tirana.
Erdogan said he had separate negotiations with the leaders of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as phone calls with the Italian prime minister and the French president at their proposal.
"For the first time since March 2022, a real opportunity has emerged for putting an end to the bloodshed. I am calling on my European counterparts also to provide their support, so that the channel for a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine remains open. Turkey, for its part, will continue to make whatever contribution it can to a peaceful settlement," Erdogan said.