Erdogan pushes Putin on 'limited ceasefire' at ports, energy facilities

ASHGABAT, Dec 12 (Agencies): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a "limited ceasefire" concerning attacks on ports and energy facilities in the Russia-Ukraine war, in face-to-face talks Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Speaking on the sidelines of a summit in Turkmenistan, Erdogan told Putin that efforts to end the war were valuable, saying "implementing a limited ceasefire targeting energy facilities and ports in particular could be beneficial" in that respect, according to a readout from his office.

Erdogan's remarks came on the heels of several attacks on Russia-linked tankers in the Black Sea, some of which were drone attacks claimed by Kyiv.

The attacks sparked harsh criticism from Ankara, which summoned envoys from both Russia and Ukraine, warning the strikes amounted to a "worrying escalation".

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Thursday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Turkey was working on plans for a ceasefire specifically linked to energy infrastructure and shipping.

"President Erdogan mentioned this to me. I told him we would support it. He wanted to organise a corresponding meeting-initially at team level, then at the leaders' level. I told him we are ready," he said.

"Today, the United States believes we are close to an agreement," he added.

"From what I understand, the Russians simply told them that they would not agree to any (interim) ceasefire unless an agreement is signed," he said, referring to a full and complete peace deal.

Turkey, which has sought to maintain relations with Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war, controls the Bosphorus Strait, a key passage for transporting Ukrainian grain and Russian oil towards the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Russia, Turkiye and Iran meet Friday in Turkmenistan, an isolated Central Asian state which is marking 30 years of official neutrality with a rare international summit.

The principle of "permanent neutrality" is at the heart of the former Soviet republic's foreign policy - a doctrine that has contributed to making Turkmenistan one of the world's most isolated countries.

On the guest list are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with other regional leaders.

Turkmenistan, which borders Iran, Afghanistan, and the Caspian Sea, has only had three presidents since gaining independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

The first was Saparmurat Niyazov, who proclaimed himself both "president for life" and the "father of the Turkmen" (Turkmenbashi), and ruled for 15 years.

The Berdymukhamedov family took over in 2006, with father Gurbanguly becoming president before handing the job to his son Serdar in 2022.

In reality, the pair rule in tandem. Gurbanguly retains immense power and is the subject of an intense personality cult.

Officially proclaimed "leader of the Turkmen nation" and Arkadag, which means hero-protector, he built a vast city named after himself, Arkadag, at a cost of at least $5 billion. He also erected gigantic golden statues of himself, while Serdar is regularly praised in the state-run media.

Turkmenistan is one of the world's most secretive countries, often compared to North Korea for its inaccessibility.

Since the United Nations supported Turkmenistan's "permanent neutrality" status in 1995, it has become a foreign policy cornerstone. An almost 100-meter (300-feet) tall Neutrality Monument, resembling a rocket and featuring a golden statue of the first president, stands in the capital Ashgabat.