US-Russia meeting was key to prevent escalation, Erdogan tells Putin

ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the meeting this week between American and Russian intelligence services was important to prevent "uncontrolled" escalation in the field, the Turkish presidency said on Friday.

In a phone call, Erdogan said diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine must be revived and he thanked Putin for the extension of the Black Sea grain deal.