Ankara [Turkey], February 25 (ANI/Sputnik): Ankara wants to be a mediator in the Ukraine crisis, Turkish Ambassador to the United States Murat Mercan said on Friday.

"In terms of Turkey's role in Ukraine, in this conflict we want to be be a mediator," Mercan said. "We want to contribute to peace making."

Also Read | China Could Invade Taiwan After Seeing West's Response to Ukraine Invasion: Oxford University Professor Timothy Garton Ash.

On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Russia and Ukraine to resolve the crisis through dialogue within the framework of the Minsk agreements.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Moscow had started a special operation in Ukraine on the request of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk to provide assistance to defend themselves from ongoing attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. (ANI/Sputnik)

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: US Congress Wants To Kick Out Russia From UN Security Council.

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)