Erdoğan tells Putin ceasefire needed in peace efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Vladimir Putin in a phone call that peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war should be supported by a unilateral ceasefire and a "vision for a fair solution", the Turkish presidency said on Thursday.

Erdoğan and the Russian president have spoken repeatedly since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February. Türkiye acted as a mediator alongside the United Nations to set up a deal allowing grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

"President Erdoğan said calls for peace and negotiations should be supported by a unilateral ceasefire and a vision for a fair solution," the readout said, adding that Erdoğan reminded Putin of the positive outcomes of the grains corridor deal.

Ukraine is a major global grain producer and exporter, but production and exports have fallen since Russia invaded and started blockading its seaports.

The two leaders also discussed Syria, with Erdoğan telling Putin that concrete steps needed to be taken to clear the YPG/PKK militants from the Syrian border region, the readout said.

"President Erdoğan emphasised that concrete steps should now be taken to clear the terrorist organisation PKK/PYD/YPG from Türkiye's border regions, especially Tel Rifat and Manbij," it said.