In a telephone conversation on January 5, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Vladimir Putin that peace efforts in the Russo-Ukrainian war must be supported by a unilateral ceasefire and "a vision of a just solution," the Turkish president's office said.
Erdogan and the Russian president have spoken repeatedly since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February. Turkey acted as an intermediary with the UN in concluding a deal allowing the export of grain from Ukrainian ports.
"President Erdogan said that calls for peace and negotiations must be backed up by a unilateral ceasefire and a vision of a just solution," the statement said. In addition, Erdogan reminded Putin of the positive results of the grain corridor deal.
Ukraine is a major global producer and exporter of grain, but production and exports of this commodity have fallen since Russia invaded and began blockading its seaports.
The two leaders also discussed Syria, and Erdogan told Putin that concrete steps must be taken to clear the Kurdish military from the areas bordering Syria, especially in Tel Rifat and Manbij.
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