Turkey's Erdogan urges 'peaceful resolution' in call with Putin amid Wagner mutiny

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Saturday for a "peaceful resolution" to the armed rebellion in Russia in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, during which he said his country was ready to help.

Erdogan "underlined the importance of acting with common sense," Erdogan's office said in a statement.

"President Erdogan said that we, as Turkey, are ready to do our part for the peaceful resolution of events in Russia as soon as possible," the statement added.

The call came amid what Putin described as an "armed rebellion" by Wagner group against the Russian defence ministry.

The Kremlin's statement on Putin's call with Erdogan said the latter voiced "full support" for the Russian president. However, the Turkish statement did not include this wording.

Wagner’s armed rebellion is racing towards Moscow after the mercenary group’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin took control of the military headquarters in Russian cities Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don.

Prigozhin has said his forces have been attacked by artillery and helicopters since he launched his mutiny.

Putin said an “armed mutiny” by Yevgeny Prigozhin was treason and a “mortal blow” to Russia’s troops.

In an emergency televised address, the Russian president said anyone who had taken up arms against his military would be punished.

Prigozhin demanded Mr Shoigu and Russia’s top general Valery Gerasimov meet him in Rostov-on-Don, otherwise threatening to "blockade the city of Rostov and head for Moscow".