We are in contact with Russia and Ukraine. We tell them not to shut the door, says Erdogan according to Turkish media.
Russia says it is ready to meet Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul in Turkey on Monday and will present a new peace proposal. Ukraine welcomes new talks but demands that the attacking power Russia "keeps its promise" to hand over its conditions in advance.
Expectations of a possible meeting are low after Putin failed to show up to a high-level meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Istanbul in mid-May. Instead, representatives at a much lower level met and no major breakthroughs were made.
Since then, US President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Putin with a series of outbursts in social media. And Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited the Russian president in Moscow on Monday. He is now reported to be on his way to Kyiv where he will meet Zelenskyj.
Russia launched its full-scale war against its neighboring country over three years ago. In recent months, attempts to achieve a ceasefire and peace talks have intensified, but Russia has signaled that it will not accept an unconditional ceasefire. Erdogan is also engaged.
To put out this enormous fire in our region... is a humanitarian duty, says the Turkish president.
