Situation in Syria not discussed this time by Putin and Erdogan

A phone conversation on Monday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked a rare occasion as there have been no reports that Turkey's security concerns in Northern Syria, the prospect of a Turkish military campaign in the region, and neither a top level meeting between Syrian and Turkish sides were discussed.

The two presidents reportedly discussed, instead, prisoner swaps between Moscow and Kiev, exports via the Black Sea and the latest developments in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

"Concrete steps were discussed in the project of turning Russian grain into flour in Turkey and exporting it to African countries in need," the Turkish Communications Directorate said in a statement.

The Black Sea grain corridor to allow ships to export goods from Ukraine and export of ammonia from Russia were also on the two leaders' agenda, the statement noted, adding that Erdogan reiterated Ankara's willingness to facilitate and mediate a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Kremlin's press service said in a statement:

"The parties continued to exchange views on the situation around Ukraine. In particular, the exchange of prisoners, primarily those wounded, was touched upon at Turkey's initiative in light of a recent meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian human rights ombudspersons in Ankara."