Putin considering talks with Kiev: Turkey

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering resuming talks with Ukraine. Turkey's top diplomat said this at a press conference in Tokyo on Monday (September 26) while attending the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Cavusoglu said that during the discussion with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the recently held SCO conference in Uzbekistan, Putin said that he would consider resuming negotiations with Ukraine to end the conflict. In a report, the Russian media RT reported this news. 

The Turkish Foreign Minister said, during the discussion with our President, Putin mentioned the possibility of holding talks with Kiev again, but it will be in the context of the new situation that has arisen.  

Mevlut also reiterated Ankara's willingness to hold direct talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said, our president (Erdoğan) will continue to communicate with Putin and Zelensky. Our aim is to bring these two leaders together to ensure decision making from the top level.  

Meanwhile, for the first time since World War II, Putin has announced 'military mobilization' or increasing the number of troops in the military. Following Putin's warning in an address to the nation on Wednesday (September 21), China's Foreign Ministry called on all parties to engage in dialogue as well as consult and find ways to address security concerns.