Doha, 27 March 2022 (TDI): Presidential Spokesperson of Turkey stated the narrative of Turkey about the Russia-Ukraine Crisis that all states must negotiate with Russia to help end the war in Ukraine.
In this regard, Kyiv needs more support to defend itself. NATO member Turkey has affable ties with both Russia and Ukraine and has required mediation in the month-long conflict.
Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin told at the Doha International Forum that “If everybody burns bridges with Russia then who is going to talk to them at the end of the day.
“The war on Ukraine is unfair and is a provoked war. But if everybody burns bridges with Russia, who will talk to them about peace?” says Ibrahim Kalin, Spokesperson and Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey, at the #DohaForum. @ikalin1 @ChathamHouse pic.twitter.com/zwVKeb8mhX
— Doha Forum (@DohaForum) March 27, 2022
Further he added that “Ukrainians need to be supported by every means possible so they can defend themselves, but the Russian case must be heard, one way or the other,” so that its grievances could be understood if not justified.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky has requested the West regarding provision of tanks, planes and missiles to fend off Russian forces in the Ukraine. The West has retaliated against Russia’s invasion by imposing drastic economic sanctions on Moscow.
Ankara claims that Turkey condemns the Russian invasion but on principle Western sanctions against Russia is unacceptable and Turkey has not joined them.
Further he said that there are a number of areas in which Turkiye disagrees with Russia, such as Syria and Libya, but Turkiye also has been able to develop a working relationship with Moscow, where it managed those differences in a way that helps the processes on the ground.
Turkey’s economy is already stressed by December 2021 currency crisis and relies heavily on Russian energy, trade and tourism. Thousands of Russians have arrived in Turkey by seeing it as a safe haven from the sanctions.
Head of Turkey’s investment office, Ahmet Burak Daglioglu revealed exclusively during Doha forum 2022 that some Russian companies were relocating its operations to Turkey.
On asking a question by panel about Turkey’s doing business with any people which could be of benefit to President Vladimir Putin, Ahmet Burak Daglioglu said: “We are not targeting, we are not chasing, we are not pursuing any investment or capital that has a question mark on it.”
Western governments have targeted Abramovich and several other Russian oligarchs with sanctions as they are attempting to isolate Putin and his allies over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
