Russia Rejects Erdogan's Proposal for Mediation in Ukraine War

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ankara could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine, but Putin's spokesperson emphasized that Erdogan cannot play a mediating role in this 28-month-long conflict. According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, Erdogan, who met with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, expressed his belief that a fair peace for both sides is possible. However, Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, dismissed the possibility of the Turkish leader acting as a mediator. In a television interview, when asked if Erdogan could play such a role, he said, 'No, it is not possible.' According to the Turkish presidency's statement, the two leaders also discussed the Gaza conflict and ways to end the war in Syria. Turkey is a NATO member, a military alliance led by the United States. However, unlike other NATO leaders who have sanctioned Putin's government, Erdogan has sought to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Turkey played a key role in reaching an agreement for grain exports from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, which remained in effect for a year.