Turkish diplomatic sources stated that Russia and Ukraine are keen on Turkey’s playing a mediator role in ending the tension between the two countries.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, Turkish sources reported that Turkey will also host the next meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, where the situation in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine will be discussed.
The same sources said that a date has not yet been set for the talks to be held in Istanbul, but representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Minsk Group and Donbass are expected to attend the talks.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the RIA news agency, “There is no preparation for such a meeting.”
Peskov added that Ukraine did not comply with the Minsk agreements to end the conflict with the pro-Moscow rebels and supplied weapons.
Western countries are worried that Russia, which has deployed thousands of soldiers on the Ukrainian border in recent months, will launch a new attack on Ukraine. Moscow denies allegations that it planned an attack.
Speaking to Reuters, Turkish diplomatic sources said that both Russia and Ukraine welcome Turkey’s mediation.
NATO member Turkey has good relations with Kiev and Moscow, but opposes Russia’s policies in Syria and Libya and its 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.
Erdogan: “Our hope is to bring Putin and Zelensky together”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Thursday that he will visit Ukraine at the beginning of February and that he hopes to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon.
In his response to a question asked during the press conference, Erdogan said, “The existence of an atmosphere of war in the region and the emergence of such a psychology upsets us as a country that has relations with both sides. Our hope is to bring together Mr. Putin and Zelenski as soon as possible and to ensure that they have a face-to-face meeting,” he said.
“We want peace to prevail in the region, so that there will be no other negative developments in the region,” Erdogan said.
Ukraine looks positive
Ukraine has a positive attitude towards Turkey’s mediation in negotiations with Russia. Zelenski said in November that he wanted Erdogan to forward the list he has to Putin for a possible prisoner exchange, but this exchange did not take place.
Ukraine also purchased unmanned aerial vehicles from Turkey to use in the fight against rebels supported by Russia in the east of the country and signed an agreement with Ankara this year to manufacture these vehicles.
Ankara said two months ago that it was ready to act as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Speaking about Turkey’s proposal, Kremlin Spokesperson Peskov said, “We will be pleased if our Turkish allies influence Kiev and convince them to abide by the agreements made before.”