On Saturday, Turkey urged for discussions to resolve the war and described Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions as a “grave breach” of international law.
According to a statement from the foreign ministry, Ankara did not recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and maintained the same position after Russia declared Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia to be a part of its territory on Friday following elections that were widely denounced as fraudulent.
The ministry stated that Turkey “does not accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea in an illegal referendum in 2014 and has stressed its strong support to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty on every occasion.”
The most recent annexation, which “constitutes a severe breach of the established principles of international law,” was denied, it was said.
The statement continued, “We repeat our support for the end of this conflict, the severity of which keeps increasing, based on a just peace that will be achieved via dialogue.
Throughout the seven-month crisis, NATO member Turkey has made an effort to maintain neutrality and has abstained from supporting Western sanctions against Russia.
While Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, is eager to increase commerce with Moscow as he attempts to stabilise the damaged economy ahead of elections in June, Ankara remains dependent on Russian oil and gas.
On the margins of a regional meeting in Uzbekistan last month, Erdogan and Vladimir Putin met.
But following repeated warnings from the United States, Turkey is now debating whether to cease processing payments made through Russia’s Mir payment system.
