Turkey: According to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the West's attempts to involve Turkey in a conflict with Russia will fail.
We live in a world that is plagued by conflicts and crises. In this environment, we've been able to create a strong, independent Türkiye, and we need to keep it that way, the Turkish president said in an interview with the broadcaster A Haber on Wednesday.
Without our work over the past two years, the Western club would have forced Turkey into a conflict with Russia. We won't permit this as long as we're here, Erdogan vowed.
Also Read: Israeli raids have left scars on some Palestinian children
He reaffirmed Ankara's desire to assist in mediating a deal to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He claimed that "serious, focused mediation" could bring about peace.
Erdogan's interview comes six weeks before Turkey's May 14 presidential and general elections. Following a devastating earthquake that struck the nation in early February and left more than 50,000 people dead, the Turkish president and his governing AK Party are anticipated to face a difficult challenge.
During a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart Katalin Novak on Wednesday in Ankara, Erdogan also discussed the Ukrainian conflict and emphasised that Turkey wants to secure peace between Russia and Ukraine "as soon as possible."
Also Read: Iraq still bears the painful scars of the Daesh regime
He suggested that the parties could get together once more in Istanbul, where negotiations had previously taken place soon after fighting broke out more than a year ago.
Throughout the conflict, Turkey has remained in touch with both Moscow and Kiev. While condemning Russia's use of force, it stood firm against pressure from the US and its allies to support sanctions against Moscow.
The agreement between Russia and Ukraine that was signed in July last year to permit grain exports from Black Sea ports was also mediated by Ankara. The agreement was extended for an additional 60 days earlier this month.
Also Read: Syria claims that Israeli strikes near Damascus have injured two soldiers
Russia insists that it is willing to negotiate a solution to the Ukrainian crisis, but claims that so far Kiev's and its Western backers' proposals have been "unacceptable," leaving it with no choice but to continue pursuing its objectives militarily.