Türkiye to continue efforts for Russia-Ukraine peace, says President Erdoğan

Hailing the prisoners swap between Russia and Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Ankara will continue its efforts to ensure peace between the two countries.

"Our efforts to establish peace between Russia and Ukraine continue. I thank (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy for enabling the prisoner exchange...This development made us very happy," Erdoğan told reporters on Wednesday at the Türkevi Center in New York.

Erdoğan's remarks came right after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 200 prisoners of war as a result of Türkiye's mediation and diplomatic efforts conducted with the leaders of the two countries.

"Türkiye has now received the result of its belief in the power of dialogue and diplomacy with this prisoners exchange," he added.

Erdoğan said he will hold phone calls with Putin and Zelenskyy as soon he returned from New York, where the Turkish president addressed the UN General Assembly.

He added that the UN should take initiative and make more efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, the UN could not end the war, could not stop the bloodshed, nor could it find a solution to the energy and food crises that emerged as a result of the war. The efforts of UN Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) to establish the grain corridor on this issue have somewhat reassured the UN, but there is no doubt that more efforts should be made to end the war," Erdoğan said.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to restart grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February.

Ankara's "only aim" is to end bloodshed and to establish peace since the Russia-Ukraine war began in February, Erdoğan said, adding: "We have always expressed our commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and political unity since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since the beginning of the Ukraine-Russia war, we have emphasized that the steps taken by Russia at this point are unfair and unacceptable."

Erdoğan said Türkiye is in favor of diplomacy to resolve crisis and outstanding issues.