Putin and Erdoğan Discuss Path to Peace, Exchange of Prisoners and Grain

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has once again offered his mediation between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone on Monday.

Erdoğan said that Ankara is ready to facilitate and mediate to ensure long-term peace between Russia and Ukraine.

In addition, according to the Turkish side, Erdoğan and Putin discussed the "grain corridor" and ammonia supplies, as well as a project to send Russian grain to African countries after it was ground into flour in Türkiye.

The Kremlin said that Putin discussed with Erdoğan the prisoners' exchange with Ukraine, the implementation of the grain agreement, the supply of Russian gas and the creation of a gas hub. In addition, Putin accused Ukraine of intensifying hostilities and "hypocrisy" by refusing the so-called "Christmas truce."

The Turkish ombudsman Şeref Malkoç shared with reporters last week that he had asked Erdoğan to back the idea of setting up a permanent "humanitarian corridor" in war zone.

According to Malkoç, Erdoğan should have discussed this matter in talks with Putin and Zelenskyy.