Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin and Victoria Nuland, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs met in Ankara, Anadolu agency reports.

During the meeting the sides discussed such issues as Syria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Israel, energy security, defense cooperation, and bilateral political and economic relations, Kalin’s office said in a statement.

The meeting said that Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul on March 29 gave “positive momentum” to peace efforts, with Turkey playing “an important role” towards ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Kalin told Nuland that Turkey will resolutely continue its diplomatic initiatives for a cease-fire and the opening of humanitarian corridors.