Kremlin rejects Erdogan's mediation in Ukraine war
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Ankara's help in ending the Ukraine-Russia war, but Putin's spokesman said Erdogan could not play a mediator role in the 28-month-old conflict.
The Turkish presidency quoted Erdogan as saying during his talks with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan that he believed it was possible to reach a just peace that would suit both sides.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov ruled out the Turkish leader playing any role as a mediator.
"No, it is not possible," Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia's TASS news agency when asked in a Russian television interview whether Erdogan could play such a role.
The Russian news agency's report did not say why the Kremlin opposed Erdogan's involvement.
The Turkish presidency said the two leaders also discussed the war in Gaza and ways to end the conflict in Syria.