Erdogan meets Putin, calls for an end to bloodshed in Ukraine

Despite the formidable obstacles, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for an end to the "bloodshed" in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In advance of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he made this statement on Thursday at a regional summit in Kazakhstan.

Speaking to Kazakh regional leaders, Erdogan said, “Our goal is to help stop the bloodshed as soon as possible by maintaining the momentum gained in spite of the difficulties in the field. A fair peace can be achieved through diplomacy”.

Later on Thursday, Erdogan and Putin will meet to talk about the conflict.

Local media reports that Turkey's offer to mediate negotiations between Western powers and Russia and Ukraine is also on the table.

NATO member Turkey has established itself as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia ever since Moscow invaded its neighbour in February.

Ankara issued a warning earlier this week that Russia and Ukraine were moving away from a diplomatic resolution, complicating the outcome of a protracted war.

Erdogan met Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, on Wednesday in Astana. After signing six agreements on everything from trade to security, the two were seen playing table tennis.

Among additional factors for Erdogan's peculiar handling of the paddle were images from the match between the two men in their late 60s wearing shirts and ties under a chandelier that went viral on social media.

Source