U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, an important mediator seeking an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine, will visit Turkey on April 25 before heading to Moscow and later Kiev
Guterres will then head to Moscow on April 26 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a trip on April 28 to Kiev in an effort to mediate an end to Russia’s invasion, which has killed thousands while driving over 10 million Ukrainians to flee from their homes since Feb. 24.
A spokesperson for Guterres said last week that the secretary-general will have a working meeting and lunch on April 26 with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will be received by Putin in Moscow. “He hopes to talk about what can be done to bring peace to Ukraine urgently,” U.N. associate spokesperson Eri Kaneko said.
Guterres will have a working meeting with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, and will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 28.
Turkey has been trying to negotiate an end to the conflict, hosting meetings between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul, as well as a summit between the two countries’ foreign ministers in Antalya.
Ankara urges the leaders of the two warring countries to have a meeting in Turkey in order to finalize a peace deal.
Erdoğan talks to Zelensky
Turkey is ready to give all possible support for the peace talks and mediate between Russia and Ukraine in this bid, Erdoğan told his Ukrainian counterpart on April 24.
Erdoğan had a phone conversation with Zelenksy, the Presidential Communication’s Directorate said in a statement.
The two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war and issues related to the ongoing negotiation process, the statement said.
Erdoğan stated that the evacuation of the wounded and civilians must be ensured in Mariupol city of Ukraine, where the situation is getting worse each day.
Expressing that Turkey is ready to provide all the assistance it can during the negotiation process and to offer the necessary support, including mediation, Erdoğan expressed that Ankara also views the issue of being a guarantor of a deal positively in principle.
Hurriyet Daily News