WORLD

Turkish president, UN chief discuss latest developments on Russia-Ukraine war

Turkiye ready to provide support to UN-led work on Humanitarian Contact Group, evacuations, humanitarian aid, Erdogan tells UN chief

Antonio Guterres and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AA

H. J. I. / AA

The Turkish president and UN chief discussed the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war over the phone on Saturday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres briefed Recep Tayyip Erdogan about his Moscow and Kyiv contacts, according to a statement by Turkiye's Communications Directorate.

Turkiye is ready to provide support to UN-led work on Humanitarian Contact Group, evacuations, and humanitarian, Erdogan told the UN chief, the statement added.

Turkiye will continue to encourage both Ukraine and Russia to act with constraint and based on reconciliation, Erdogan noted, saying Ankara will continue with determination and sincerity its efforts for the crisis to be overcome and peace to be restored.

Erdogan also congratulated Guterres on his birthday, the statement also said.

At least 2,899 civilians have been killed and 3,235 others injured in Ukraine since the war started on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates. The true toll is feared to be much higher.

More than 5.3 million people have fled to other countries, with some 7.7 million people internally displaced, data from the UN refugee agency shows.