President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, engaged in a phone conversation on Saturday, during which Erdogan emphasized the importance of rationality amidst an armed mutiny initiated by Russian mercenary fighters. In response to the incident, Putin condemned the actions of the Wagner Group as “treason” in a televised address and vowed to punish those who took up arms against the Russian military.
Erdogan’s phone call with Putin swiftly followed the Russian president’s speech, highlighting the Turkish leader’s prompt engagement. The Turkish presidency stated that the two leaders discussed recent developments in Russia, with Erdogan expressing Turkey’s willingness to contribute to a peaceful resolution.
According to a separate statement by the Kremlin, Erdogan voiced support for the Russian government’s handling of the mutiny during his conversation with Putin. Erdogan has consistently aimed to maintain strong relationships with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the Ukrainian conflict. While Turkey, as a NATO member, has refrained from imposing economic sanctions on Russia like its Western allies, it has supplied arms to Ukraine and advocated for the preservation of its sovereignty.
