Trump says Erdoğan could help mediate Ukraine conflict

US President Donald Trump has said he believes his Turkish counterpart , Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, could play a role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way from Sharm el-Sheikh to Washington, Trump was asked whether the Turkish leader could assist in settling the crisis, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

“Erdoğan can,” Trump said, adding that the Turkish president is “respected by Russia." I can’t tell you about Ukraine. But he is respected by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, and he is a friend of mine.”

On October 13, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted more than 20 world leaders, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh for a summit to sign a Gaza ceasefire deal.

By Khagan Isayev