Türkiye ready to help peacefully address Ukraine crisis: president

ANKARA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye was ready to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis in the interests of all, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Friday.

In the phone call, Erdogan and Putin exchanged views on enhancing Türkiye-Russia relations as well as the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a statement released by the Turkish presidency.

Erdogan reiterated that Ankara stood ready to "do its share for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine issue in the interests of all," the statement said.

Türkiye, which has good relations with both Ukraine and Russia, has been acting as a mediator between the two countries since their conflict broke out in late February.

On July 22, Ukraine and Russia separately signed a deal with Türkiye and the United Nations in Istanbul to resume food and fertilizer shipments from Ukrainian ports to international markets via the Black Sea.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged about 200 prisoners of war as a result of Türkiye's mediation, Erdogan announced in September.