Erdogan pushes Putin on 'limited ceasefire' at ports, energy facilities

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a "limited ceasefire" in Russia's war with Ukraine, targeting ports and energy facilities, in face-to-face talks Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Erdogan told the Russian leader on the sidelines of a summit in Turkmenistan that efforts to end the war were valuable, saying "implementing a limited ceasefire targeting energy facilities and ports in particular could be beneficial," his office said.

Erdogan's remarks came on the heels of several attacks on Russia-linked tankers in the Black Sea, some of which were drone attacks claimed by Kyiv.

This drew harsh criticism from Ankara, which summoned envoys from both Russia and Ukraine, warning that such attacks amounted to a "worrying escalation".

Turkey, which has sought to maintain relations with Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war, controls the Bosphorus Strait, a key passage for transporting Ukrainian grain and Russian oil towards the Mediterranean.

In November, Erdogan said a ceasefire deal covering energy and port infrastructure constituted a potential basis for negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement, during an online meeting of Ukraine's allies.