Putin will discuss Ukraine with Erdoğan, Kremlin says

Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Oct. 13 to discuss Ukraine and bilateral relations, the Kremlin said on Oct. 11.

The meeting will take place in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Peskov has previously told reporters it was "possible" the two leaders would discuss a Turkish proposal to host talks between Russia and the West on peace in Ukraine.

On the other hand, Russia has not yet heard a proposal from Turkey about hosting peace talks between Moscow and Western countries, its foreign ministry said on Oct. 11, as tensions continue to rise after more than seven months of war in Ukraine.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing that no such proposal had been received through diplomatic channels but added that the situation was changing "dynamically".

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that Moscow was open to talks with the West on the Ukraine war but had yet to receive any serious proposal to negotiate.

Meanwhile, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar observed a "common understanding" regarding the need for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Oct. 11, Akar's ministry said in a statement.

Akar emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire to stop loss of life and establish peace and stability in the region, according to a readout following the call between the two ministers.

"The importance of declaring a ceasefire urgently in order to prevent further loss of lives and to re-establish peace and stability in the region was emphasized, and it was gladly observed that there was a common understandıng regarding the ceasefire," the Turkish defence ministry said.

The call came after Russian missiles hit Ukraine for a second day, although with less intensity than on Monday, when dozens of air raids killed 19 people, wounded more than 100 and knocked out power supplies across the country.

The two ministers also talked about a grain exports deal, humanitarian aid and northern Syria, the defence ministry said.

Turkey has been seen as a potential mediator between Russia and the West, and in July helped broker a deal to export Ukrainian grain blockaded in Black Sea ports.