Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on holding the next round of talks between Moscow and Kiev in Istanbul on 29 March.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Ankara is ready to arrange a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky as well as facilitate the Moscow-Kiev negotiating process.

In an address to the delegations of Russia and Ukraine before their meeting at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Erdogan stressed that the conflict [in Ukraine] is "very upsetting" for Turkey, who has made "sincere efforts at all levels and tried to fulfill the requirements of friendship, good neighbourliness, and laws since the beginning of the crisis".

"We have demonstrated a fair approach that protects and respects the rights of both parties on all platforms where we have a right to vote", the Turkish president stated.

Erdogan expressed hope that if there is progress at the meeting in Istanbul, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine could reach the next stage.

"The progress that you will achieve in these negotiations will also allow you to move on to the next stage - contact at the level of leaders. We are also ready to hold such a meeting", he underscored.

Erdogan also emphasised that "everyone is interested in a ceasefire [in Ukraine] being established as soon as possible".

"We believe that we have entered a period when concrete results should be obtained from negotiations. The world is waiting for good news from you. We are ready for any contribution that will facilitate your work", the Turkish president said.