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Russia-Ukraine: Erdogan calls on Putin 'to become an architect for peace'

Next round of Ukraine-Russia talks will take place in Istanbul, as Turkish president presses for an end to the war
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attend inauguration ceremony of a new gas pipeline 'TurkStream' on 8 January 2020, in Istanbul (AFP/File photo)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in a telephone call on Sunday to press for an end to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 

Erdogan told Putin that a ceasefire and better humanitarian conditions should be brokered in order to begin a lasting peace process, his office said in a statement. 

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"Erdogan noted the importance of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the implementation of peace and the improvement of humanitarian conditions in the region," Erdogan's office said. 

During the call, the two leaders agreed that the next round of peace committee talks between Ukraine and Russia would be held in Istanbul. 

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia confirmed that the next round of face-to-face talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place in Turkey on 28-30 March. 

Ukraine described previous talks with Russia, launched after Russia unleashed an invasion last month, as "very difficult".

On Thursday, Erdogan called on Putin to make an "honourable exit" from the war in Ukraine, announcing plans to further mediate.

"I will look for ways to end this issue by telling [Putin] to become an architect for peace," Erdogan said, speaking to reporters in Brussels during a Nato summit at the time. 

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