Overview
- The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin is in Ashgabat on December 11–12 for an international forum marking Turkmenistan’s neutrality and the UN’s peace and trust observances.
- Dmitry Peskov confirmed meetings with Iran’s President Masud Pezeshkian, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iraq’s President Abdul Latif Rashid.
- Putin will also hold a discussion with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdymukhamedov on Friday during the forum’s sidelines.
- A Turkish source told RIA Novosti the Erdogan–Putin agenda will be broad across key bilateral areas, with Ankara prepared to support Ukraine mediation if the topic comes up.
- Separately, the Kremlin reported a phone call in which Putin voiced solidarity with Venezuela and agreed with President Nicolas Maduro to advance joint projects in trade, energy, finance and cultural cooperation, and an informed source said Iran’s foreign minister plans a Moscow visit on December 16–17.