Will Putin (r) give Erdogan a chance to mediate and if so, at what price?
Reuters: Ukraine hails Turkey drone deal, Erdogan offer to mediate in Russia standoff
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday welcomed an offer from visiting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to mediate in Kyiv's standoff with Moscow, and Erdogan promised to do whatever he could to end the crisis peacefully.
In a move likely to grate with Moscow, Zelenskiy also trumpeted a deal enabling Ukrainian factories to produce Turkish drones that have already been deployed in Ukraine's war against Russia-backed rebels in its eastern Donbass region.
Turkey and Ukraine, which are maritime Black Sea neighbours, signed a series of agreements including a free trade deal that Kyiv says will boost bilateral annual commerce to about $10 billion over five years from $7 billion now.
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WNU Editor: I do not see this going anywhere. The Kremlin wants Kyiv to negotiate directly with the rebels in the east. The Kremlin also does not trust Erdogan.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan Offers To Mediate In Ukraine's Standoff With Russia
Erdoğan offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia -- The Guardian
Zelensky, Erdogan meet at Mariinsky Palace -- Ukrinform
Turkey Rules Out Freezing Ukraine Arms Sales to Please Russia -- Bloomberg
EXPLAINER: A mediating role for Erdogan in Ukraine crisis? -- AP
Can Turkey's Erdogan mediate a deal between Russia and Ukraine? -- DW