The Turkish president once again stressed on the necessity of continuing diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, writes aa.com.tr.

“We are aware of the difficulties of the conditions (Russia-Ukraine war), but we will continue our sincere efforts, acknowledging that diplomacy is the only way out”, - Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint news conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Ankara.

Erdogan said Turkiye has taken a “clear stance” since the very beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, calling for common sense to prevail and holding dialogue on every occasion.

Noting that more than 3 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the start of the war, Erdogan said his contacts with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. The Turkish president said that he expressed his country’s readiness to support a permanent cease-fire.

Regarding reports of mines drifting from Odessa to the Black Sea, Erdogan said: “Our Ministry of National Defense is taking all sorts of measures and will continue to do whatever is necessary. Do not be concerned about it”.