Kremlin: Putin May Meet Erdogan In Astana To Discuss RU-UKR Talks

Comments from the Kremlin per Reuters suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet Turkish President Recep Erdogan at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan next week.

• Kremlin: "Turkey's Erdogan may attend Astana summit, may meet Putin."
• Kremlin: "Putin and Erdogan could discuss Erdogan's proposals to host talks on Ukraine."
• Turkey seen as the most credible third-party mediator in the conflict. Erdogan is the only NATO leader to have held face-to-face talks with Putin since the war began, including high-profile bilats in Tehran, Sochi, and Samarkand. Erdogan's meetings with Putin helped facilitate the Black Sea grain corridor agreement.
• The prospect of talks remains remote. The West sees Putin's calls for peace talks as part of Kremlin playbook to reframe conflict with Ukraine as aggressor, rather than credible petition for talks.
• Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree formally ruling out negotiations with Russia while Putin remains president. The decree outlines "the impossibility of holding negotiations with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin."
• Kyiv has stated that talks will be contingent of Russia withdrawing from all occupied territory, including Crimea which was annexed in 2014.