Erdogan and Putin discuss ‘regional issues’ over phone

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<strong>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed regional issues during a phone conversation, Ankara's presidential office said.</strong></p>
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Erdogan and Putin on Friday also exchanged views on developing closer cooperation between Turkey and Russia, the presidency announced on Twitter.<br />
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Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Turkey's Istanbul on Saturday within the scope of the 9th meeting of the Turkey-Ukraine High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, reports Xinhua news agency.<br />
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Zelensky is expected to meet with Erdogan, according to the presidency.<br />
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The meeting will be at a time when the tension augmented between Ukraine and Russia over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.<br />
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Earlier in the day, the Foreign Ministry in Ankara announced that two US warships would pass through Turkey's straits to the Black Sea next week.</p>
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<em>(IANS)</em></p>