![Erdogan offers peace talks mediation, Kremlin opposes idea 3 Erdogan offers to mediate peace talks, Kremlin rules out the idea](https://assets.kyivindependent.com/content/images/2023/09/GettyImages-1538389513.jpeg)
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan suggested mediating an end to the war to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The SCO, founded in 2001 by China and Russia, focuses on Eurasian political, economic, security, and defense issues. Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed Erdogan’s proposal without providing specific reasons, citing him as unfit to serve as an intermediary. Despite Turkey being a NATO member, Erdogan has strived to maintain positive relations with both Russia and Ukraine, even securing a deal for safe grain shipments from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Erdogan previously offered to host peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, with the last unsuccessful rounds taking place in Antalya. To further the discussion on ending the war, President Zelensky remarked that Trump should reveal any plans to help Ukraine maintain its independence.