site.btaAnkara’s Diplomacy Actively Seeks to Stop War in Ukraine

Turkey has recently been making active diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. A NATO member, Turkey also has good relations with both Russia and Ukraine, and has maintained communication with both parties to the conflict. Talking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday and with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country was prepared to contribute in all possible ways to the soonest possible peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. The Turkish leader stressed the need of “an urgent comprehensive ceasefire”, pointing out that this would make it possible to address humanitarian concerns in the region and find a political solution, the Communications Directorate of the Turkish Presidency said.

“Let us clear the way to peace together,” Erdogan appealed and stressed the importance of urgent steps to ensure a ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors, and reach a peace agreement. He said he was in constant touch with the Ukrainian side and other countries and pledged to keep trying to arrange comprehensive and productive talks.

President Putin said for his part that the only way to halt the Russian military operation in Ukraine was if Kyiv stopped fighting and met Moscow’s demands, according to a Kremlin press release. At the same time, he confirmed Russia's readiness for dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities and foreign partners in search for a solution to the conflict.

Turkey's position in regard to the conflict in Ukraine remains balanced and neutral, calling for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution. Ankara defined Russia’s invasion as inadmissible and violating international law and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. On the other hand, the country did not join the international sanctions against Russia.

Capitalizing on its good relations with both sides, Turkey has long offered to mediate for a a settlement of the crisis between them and to host peace talks.

On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that a tripartite meeting with Ukraine and Russia would take part on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum later this week, the Anadolu News Agency reported. "We will hold this meeting in a tripartite format in Antalya on Thursday, March 10," said Cavusoglu. He will confer with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum will be held in Turkey's southern resort of Antalya between March 11 and 13.

Hoping that this meeting will be a "turning point" and "important step" towards peace and stability, the chief Turkish diplomat said Ankara would "continue to make efforts for lasting peace."

In a related development, Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists on Sunday that his country would continue to work for ensuring a permanent ceasefire and a positive result of the negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, as well as a meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Kalin said such a meeting would be conducive to stopping the war and reducing violence and losses.

The Spokesman stressed the importance of Turkey being able to talk to both sides, adding that its western partners acknowledged the importance of the country maintaining an open channel for communication with Russia. Erdogan recently stated that Turkey will not give up either Ukraine or Russia.

Turkey maintains close defence, energy and trade cooperation with Russia. At the same time, it has a special relationship with Ukraine, which bought  Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (drones) last year, thereby incurring Moscow’s ire. Besides this, Turkey’s tourism industry heavily relies on tourists from Russia and Ukraine.

Turkey has repeatedly declared its determination to spare no effort for the restoration of peace between Russia and Ukraine and will obviously apply all diplomatic means to that end.