Erdoğan held phone call with Russia’s Putin, Turkish presidency says

The call addressed Türkiye-Russia relations and regional issues, particularly developments about the grain corridor, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

Erdoğan thanked President Putin for his constructive stance regarding the 120-day extension of the Istanbul agreement on grain export.

Diplomatic contacts should be revived since the prolongation of the Russia-Ukraine war will further increase the risks, said Erdoğan, adding that the talks between Russian and U.S. intelligence heads in Istanbul play a crucial role in preventing an uncontrolled escalation on the ground.

Expressing his pleasure over President Putin's proposal to establish a natural gas hub in Türkiye, Erdoğan stated that relevant teams will make the necessary technical, legal, and commercial assessments to achieve the common goals as soon as possible.

Erdoğan also thanked President Putin for extending condolences over the terrorist attack in Istanbul. (ILKHA)