Turkish leader asks Putin to meet Zelenskyy

Turkey's president said he renewed a call for a meeting between leaders of Ukraine and Russia in a telephone call Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A statement from Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said he and Putin also discussed the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia that were held in Istanbul earlier in the week. Erdogan's office said the Turkish leader told Putin that the Istanbul talks had “raised hopes for peace.” Erdogan said Turkey wanted to cap off those efforts by bringing Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy together, according to the statement.

The statement said Erdogan told Putin that it was important for the sides “to act with common sense and to maintain the dialogue.” During the call, Putin thanked Erdogan for hosting the meeting between the delegations, according to the Erdogan's office.

Earlier on Friday, Erdogan said Zelenskyy was willing to participate in a leaders' meeting to be hosted by Turkey.