Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Friday that Ankara will continue its efforts to reduce tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
"Turkey will continue to make the necessary political, humanitarian and legal efforts to reduce tensions between Russia and Ukraine. We want the tensions between these countries to be overcome diplomatically through dialogue," Akar said in Brussels, where he arrived for a meeting of NATO defense ministers. The minister added that "for Turkey, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both Georgia and Ukraine are important."
Regarding the tension between Moscow and Kiev, Akar noted that "it causes excitement in Turkey, as well as in other countries and in NATO." In this regard, Ankara is "sharing its views and proposals with [alliance] allies" to reduce the level of tension.
Commenting on some fears that the Turkish straits regime, which controls the passage of military vessels into the Black Sea through the Montreux Convention, could be changed because of the crisis around Ukraine, Akar once again pointed out that this would not happen. "The Montreux Convention creates a status quo through which there is balance, security and stability in the Black Sea. We have always said that the convention is of vital importance and we will keep repeating it," the minister pointed out.
Turkey has been making efforts to organize negotiations between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky. On January 26, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that he invited Putin to visit the republic. In addition, he expressed his desire to organize both a bilateral meeting and suggested the option of a trilateral summit Turkey - Russia - Ukraine to discuss the current situation. On February 8, the press secretary of the Russian leader, Dmitriy Peskov, said that Moscow and Ankara had reached an agreement on the Russian president's visit, but that specific dates had not yet been confirmed.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS