Turkey: Russia, Ukraine 'close to agreement'

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Russia and Ukraine have made progress in their talks to end the special military operation in Ukraine, Turkey said Sunday, adding that the two warring parties were close to reaching an agreement.

In live comments from the southern Turkish province of Antalya, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, "of course, it is not an easy thing to come to terms with while the war is going on, while civilians are killed, but we would like to say that momentum is still gained." 

"We see that the parties are close to an agreement," he added.

The Turkish Foreign Minister visited Russia and Ukraine this week as Turkey, which has strong ties with both sides, attempts to position itself as a mediator.

Ankara hosted the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in Antalya last week.

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Furthermore, Cavusoglu stated that Turkey was in contact with the two countries' negotiating teams, but he refused to reveal any details of the talks because "we play an honest mediator and facilitator role."

In an interview with the Turkish daily Hurriyet, presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin stated that the sides were negotiating six points: Ukraine's neutrality, disarmament and security guarantees, so-called "de-Nazification," removal of obstacles to the use of the Russian language in Ukraine, the status of the Donbass region, and the status of Crimea.

Turkey had noted that it was willing to host a summit between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We are working day and night for peace," Cavusoglu said on Sunday.