Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed today, Friday, the need to reach a "just peace" in Ukraine, as his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, called on him to "increase pressure and isolate Russia" to make it back down from its war on Ukraine.

A brief statement by the Turkish presidency said that President Erdogan stressed - during a phone call to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin - the need to reach a just peace to avoid new loss of life and further destruction.

He also called for an extension of the Istanbul grain agreement between the two feuding countries.

In the phone call today, Friday, Erdogan thanked Putin for Russia's help and solidarity during the massive earthquake that struck southern Turkey and neighboring northern Syria on February 6, killing more than 47,000 people in both countries.

For its part, the Kremlin stated - in a statement - that during the call, views were exchanged on the situation in Ukraine and the grain export agreement was discussed, without referring to Erdogan's demands.

For its part, the Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed today, Friday, that it will continue its efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, on the first anniversary of its outbreak.

The ministry said - in a statement - that the war that broke out in Ukraine on this day a year ago is still continuing despite all Turkey's initiatives.

She explained that the exorbitant cost of this war negatively affected all countries of the world, not just the two warring parties.

She stated that Turkey always stresses "the need to end the war as soon as possible through negotiations in a just and lasting manner."

She stressed that Turkey will continue to provide all kinds of support and efforts to end this war, which it rejected from the beginning, in a way that establishes Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

French President: The priority should be to strengthen support for Ukraine (Reuters)

Macron demands

In a related context, the French President called on his Turkish counterpart today, Friday, to "increase pressure and isolation on Russia to make it retreat from its aggression against Ukraine," according to what was reported by the Elysee Palace.

The French presidency added in a statement that Macron stressed - in a phone call with Erdogan, on the one-year anniversary of the start of the Russian war on Ukraine - that the priority should be to strengthen Ukraine's support to allow it to win in the face of Moscow.

And the French presidency added that Presidents Macron and Erdogan reiterated their firm adherence to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and discussed useful steps that they could take in favor of civilians and in favor of a return to peace within the framework of respecting Ukraine's legitimate rights.

Since the beginning of the war, Macron has called for communicating with Russia and thinking about the terms of future negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.

Erdogan, in turn, is trying to play the role of mediator, while maintaining his relations with Moscow.

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the Turkish president has worked to achieve a balance in Turkey's relationship with Kiev and Moscow, and Turkey has succeeded in organizing meetings between representatives of Russia and Ukraine on its soil.

Although Ankara provided military marches to Kiev, the Turkish government refuses to adopt Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

Erdogan has met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on several occasions and holds regular talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine, which was followed by angry international reactions. To end it, Moscow requires Kiev to abandon any plans to join any military entities and remain neutral.

This is what Ukraine considers "interfering with its sovereignty."