Ukraine is cooperating with Turkey as much as possible for more support on the Russian invasion and understands – although it is not happy – the reality of Ankara’s parallel ties with Moscow, a Ukrainian diplomat was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Ankara has criticized the Russian invasion and sold drones to Kyiv despite Russian objections. But he has also opposed Western sanctions against Moscow and has maintained a cautious rhetoric, avoiding blaming any country for the conflict, even amid reports of war crimes in parts of Ukraine.
“We would be happy if Turkey took part in the sanctions and cut off flights from Russia. But we understand this reality,” the diplomat told foreign journalists on Friday on condition of anonymity.
“Instead of criticizing Turkey, we are cooperating with the Turkish side as much as possible and we are not demanding anything that is unlikely,” he said, adding that he was still the only country to bring Russian and Ukrainian officials together for peace talks. .
Turkey, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy imports and tourists, has become a safe haven for Russians fleeing sanctions, and many have invested in Turkish real estate.
The diplomat cited evidence showing that more than 100,000 Russians have arrived in Turkey and applied for residence permits since the start of the war. At the same time, however, about 85,000 Ukrainians have also arrived, of whom about 47,000 have since moved to other countries or returned home, he said.
Turkey has also banned some Russian warships from crossing its straits into the Black Sea, “saving” Odessa, which has resisted Russian attacks, the diplomat said.
Some Russian ships are still passing through and could carry supplies from Syrian waters, the diplomat said, adding: “We ask the Turkish side to monitor what they bring from Syria to Russia.”
Turkey opposes Russia’s policies in Syria and Libya and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, but has also bought the Russian S-400 missile defense system, for which Ankara will be hit by US sanctions in December 2020.
Source: Capital
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