The leaders discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia, as well as regional and global issues, the statement said. Erdogan assured Putin that Ankara “does not agree to either (US and Israeli) attacks on Iran” or Iranian retaliatory attacks against countries in the region. He added that Türkiye “continues to work for peace and stability with all concerned parties to ensure that the war does not spiral out of control,” the statement said.
The Turkish president also drew attention to “the need to stop the aggressive policy of the Netanyahu government in the region.” Erdogan stressed that Israel should not be allowed to take actions aimed at weakening the status of Jerusalem, the statement said.
Israel's scandalous decision
On Palm Sunday, Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballi, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, official custodian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the temple. The patriarchate emphasized that such a situation had happened for the first time in centuries. A day later, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land announced that issues regarding Holy Week celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre had been resolved.
Also on Monday, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates condemned Israeli restrictions on religious practices in Jerusalem in a joint statement, warning that similar actions would further threaten regional stability.
In his conversation with Putin, Erdogan also called for preventing “any disruption in Turkey's efforts to peacefully end the Russian-Ukrainian war.” The Turkish president repeated his call – addressed to both sides of the conflict – to refrain from actions that could lead to escalation, including attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea.
