With a clear announcement to Moscow, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out on the Ukraine issue and demanded the return of the territories occupied by Russia. “Of course, if peace is to be achieved in Ukraine, the return of the occupied country becomes really important. That is to be expected,” Erdogan said.
“The occupied territories must therefore be returned to Ukraine,” Erdogan said in an interview published Monday evening (local time) by US broadcaster PBS. This also includes Russia-annexed Crimea.
About a sixth of Ukraine is occupied
After the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia took over large areas in the south and east of the country. According to estimates, Moscow still occupies more than a sixth of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean peninsula, despite counter-offensive.
Ankara previously condemned the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and repeatedly called for respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Turkey actually maintains good relations with Moscow and Kiev.
Erdogan accused West of “provocation”.
Erdogan recently made a number of statements that clearly supported Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin, accusing the West of “provocation” in the war in Ukraine. Erdogan said last weekend that NATO member Turkey wants to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), of which China and Russia are the largest members.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
