The EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell hailed Turkey’s efforts to reach a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine.
Borrell told German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that the EU is unlikely to become a mediator in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“The Russians would not accept that, just as we Europeans would not accept Russia as a mediator. China cannot be a mediator either, as they leaned towards Russia,” he said.
Borrell underlined the importance of Turkey’s role and its efforts to facilitate peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
“Turkey is doing a very good job here. It has good relations with both sides. But of course, the best (mediator) would be the United Nations,” he said.
Talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on March 29 were seen as a breakthrough in the push to halt the hostilities that began on February 24.
Earlier in March, Turkey also brought together the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in its southern resort city of Antalya, the first meeting of senior government officials from the two sides since the start of the war.
Turkish officials have also been engaging with their counterparts on the issue of humanitarian corridors in Ukraine to evacuate stranded civilians and wounded persons.
