Erdoğan, Putin discuss exchange of Russian, Ukrainian prisoners of war

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, spoke over the phone on Jan. 16 and discussed the grain deal, as well as Türkiye's mediation efforts.

Erdoğan and Putin discussed the "grain corridor and ammonia export issues along with concrete steps to produce flour in Türkiye from the Russian grain and sending them to the African countries in need," said a statement by the Turkish presidency.

Erdoğan reiterated that Türkiye was "ready to undertake the task of facilitating and mediating for the establishment of a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine," the statement said.

The two leaders confirmed cooperation, Kremlin said, adding that priorities including Russian gas supplies and the creation of a regional gas hub in Türkiye were among the agenda of the talks

"The exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine continued," the Kremlin said in its readout of the call.

"Vladimir Putin drew attention to the destructive line of the Kiev regime, which relies on the intensification of hostilities with the support of Western sponsors, increasing the volume of transferred weapons and military equipment," Kremlin said.

"Among the priorities is cooperation in the energy sector, including the supply of Russian natural gas and the creation of a regional gas hub in Türkiye," said the statement. They also discussed the normalization of Turkish-Syrian relations, it noted.

The phone talk came after Ankara proposed Moscow and Kiev establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the wounded soldiers as well as civilians strapped on the battlefield through the Turkish mediation.

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