Turkish President Erdogan offers help to end the war between Russia and Ukraine; the Kremlin rules him out as a mediator

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russia’s Wladimir Putin on Wednesday that Ankara could help end the war between Ukraine and Russia. Putin’s spokesman, however, said Erdogan could not play the role of mediator in the 28-month-long conflict.

In a conversation with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan, Erdogan said he believed a fair peace suitable for both sides was possible, the Turkish presidency said.

But Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskovruled out a role as mediator for the Turkish President.

“No, that is not possible,” Peskov said, according to Russian news agency Tass, when asked by a Russian television interviewer whether Erdogan could take on such a role. The news agency’s report did not explain why the Kremlin was against Erdogan’s participation.

The Turkish presidency said the two leaders also discussed the war in Gaza and ways to end the conflict in Syria.

Turkey is a member of NATO, the US-led Western military alliance.

Unlike other NATO leaders who have imposed sanctions on Putin’s government, Erdogan has tried to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the conflict.

Turkey played a key role in drafting an agreement that ensured the safe transportation of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. The agreement remained in force for one year.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Peter Graff, Ron Popeski and Trevor Hunnicutt)