Putin’s statement on mediation and prisoner swap: I am grateful to President Erdogan

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that additional mobilization in Russia would not be announced. He also said, “I am grateful to President Erdogan for his mediation on Ukraine issue and his role in the prisoner swap. Mediation will be required when Kiev is ready for negotiations.”

Putin answered questions from members of the press in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where he was due to attend the meeting of the Supreme Council of Heads of State of the “Commonwealth of Independent States” (CIS).

Noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had played an important role in solving some problems related to Ukraine, including the exchange of prisoners, Putin said, “Erdogan was personally involved in these efforts. The result was received. We are grateful to him for this, because we also got our officers back.”