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7 Mar, 13:56

Turkey supports idea of immediate ceasefire in Ukraine — Erdogan

According to the Turkish leader, his country’s "efforts toward an agreement regulating safe navigation in the Black Sea" are in compliance with the European Union’s approaches to settling the Ukrainian crisis

ANKARA, March 7. /TASS/. Turkey supports an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"We strongly support the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine, our strategic partner. We emphasize the importance of the firm diplomatic framework within which both sides seeking a just, lasting, and genuine peace will sit down at the negotiating table. We support the idea of an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of attacks on the ground, in the air, and at sea as trust-building measure between the sides," he said during European Council President Antonio Costa’s video link with EU partner countries.

Erdogan reiterated that his country "is ready to make any contribution, including hosting the negotiating process [between the parties to the Ukrainian conflict] toward a just, lasting, and genuine peace."

According to the Turkish leader, his country’s "efforts toward an agreement regulating safe navigation in the Black Sea" are in compliance with the European Union’s approaches to settling the Ukrainian crisis.

He expressed hope that "the current EU meeting, like the summit [on Ukraine and security issues] that was organized by the United Kingdom on March 2, was a manifestation of a realistic and comprehensive approach to European security."