ANKARA, March 13. /TASS/. Turkey stays away from imposing any decisions toward peace talks on Russia and Ukraine as it urges patience until the two conflicting parties are ready for dialogue, Spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry Oncu Keceli said at a news briefing in Ankara.
"We favor Russia and Ukraine sitting down at the negotiating table when appropriate conditions are created for talks. The situation [on the frontline] is now stalled. But no decisions should be imposed. The sides will negotiate only when they are ready for that," the Turkish diplomat said.
Meanwhile, Keceli said, the Ukraine conflict "has heavily affected the economic sphere." "Thousands have been killed. And the situation has affected global food prices, too, as we have witnessed. A solution to this must be found. And it will finally be found, when the sides can negotiate," he added.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict was also discussed during a recent visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the United States, Keceli said. "We reiterated our confidence during meetings in the United States that Russia and Ukraine should negotiate but when appropriate conditions are available for that," the diplomat recounted. "We discussed the provision of security for maritime shipping in the Black Sea," he added.