Erdogan calls Putin: Tells him to commit to ending the war in Ukraine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (April 28th) that Ankara is willing to do more to end the war in Ukraine after helping organise an exchange of Russian-American prisoners.

Erdogan's office said that Putin of the “thanked the Turkish leader” in a call for helping make the exchange of former Merins, Trevor Reed for the former Russian pilot, Konstantin Yarosenko.

The exchange took place in Turkey “under the co-ordination and supervision of the National Intelligence Organisation”, Erdogan's office said.

Ankara said it is now “ready to take the initiative to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and to mediate a path to peace”.

Kremlin confirmed that Putin “expressed his gratitude to Turkish leader” for assisting in the historic exchange of 30-year-old American with 53-year-old Russian.

Reed was imprisoned in Russia in 2020 and sentenced to nine years in prison for allegedly attacking drunk police officers.

Yarosenko has served a 20-year sentence since 2011, after being convicted of drug smuggling.

Turkey's role in return highlights the NATO member's ability to maintain an open dialogue with Moscow amid crisis in Ukraine.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also said Wednesday Washington was “ungrateful to Turkey for its role in the safe return of American Reed”.

Turkey hosted a meeting between Moscow and Kiev negotiators in Istanbul and another between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba in Antalya last month.

Erdogan is now trying to pave the way for an Istanbul summit between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He told Putin on Thursday that Turkey wants “to establish a lasting peace in the region as soon as possible by increasing the momentum gained in Istanbul's “talks, his office said.

Kremlin said only that Putin and Erdogan agreed to keep “further conflicts”.