Vladimir Putin plans uncommon abroad journey to go to NATO member Turkey

Vladimir Putin is planning a uncommon abroad journey to Turkey subsequent month, the nation’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has revealed.

Mr Erdogan made the announcement throughout a press convention following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul.

The Turkish president didn’t reveal additional particulars of the timing of the go to in August, however stated a possible prisoner swap settlement between Russia and Ukraine could be among the many points mentioned.

“I hope we will get a result from this soon,” Mr Erdogan informed reporters within the early hours of Saturday morning.

“If we make some phone calls before [the face-to-face meeting], we will discuss it on the call as well,” he added.

Putin and Mr Erdogan beforehand held talks in Kazakhstan in October final 12 months.

Mr Zelenskyy stated he would await the end result of any prisoner alternate deal earlier than commenting, however added: “We are working on the return of our captives, political prisoners, Crimean Tatars.

“Our companions have all of the lists. We are actually engaged on this.”

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The Russian president has not stepped foot in any NATO nations since launching his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

During the interval he has additionally solely made a handful of worldwide journeys, together with transient visits to Iran final July and shut ally Belarus in December.

Putin has grown more and more remoted amid ongoing Western sanctions, whereas the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant for his arrest over warfare crimes allegations that Russia has unlawfully deported Ukrainian kids in the course of the warfare.

But regardless of the tensions, and Turkey’s membership of NATO, Mr Erdogan has strived to take care of relations with each Ukraine and Russia in the course of the battle.

Turkey has not joined in with Western financial sanctions, however has equipped arms to Ukraine and rejected Russian makes an attempt to annex its territory.

The ICC doesn’t have its personal police power and consultants have performed down the prospects of Putin being arrested anytime quickly, saying he couldn’t be taken into custody on overseas soil with out the cooperation of a state’s authorities.

Mr Erdogan has been eager to solid himself as a mediator within the warfare, together with serving to to dealer a deal final 12 months to permit the protected export of grain from Ukrainian ports by way of the Black Sea.

The present model of the settlement is because of expire on 17 July, however the Turkish chief stated work was ongoing to increase it.

During the press convention Mr Erdogan additionally backed Ukraine’s bid to affix NATO as soon as the warfare was over, and stated he would proceed efforts to attempt to negotiate an finish to the battle.

Putin’s go to to Turkey has not been confirmed by the Kremlin.

But spokesman Dmitry Peskov, talking to reporters earlier than Saturday’s press convention in Istanbul, stated: “As for forthcoming contacts between Putin and Erdogan, we do not rule them out in the foreseeable future.”