Turkey urges more Ukraine ceasefire efforts, to continue mediation

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey called for ramped up efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine and vowed to continue its “mediation and facilitation” work between Moscow and Kyiv, ahead of a NATO summit where leaders will discuss Russia’s invasion.

NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia and has good ties with both. While supporting Ukraine and criticising Russia, Ankara has also opposed sanctions on Moscow and launched mediation efforts. Although Moscow says its operation is going to plan, Russian forces have not captured a major Ukrainian city after a month of fighting.

After a nearly 4-hour meeting in Ankara chaired by President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) said Turkey would continue to fulfil its responsibilities for regional peace. “It was noted that the efforts to halt attacks and achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, and to solve problems between the two countries by taking into consideration Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in a lasting manner need to be ramped up,” the MGK said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Turkey hosted the Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers for the first high-level talks since the war, and wants to bring together Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy. While forging close ties with Russia in defence, energy and trade, and relying heavily on Russian tourists, Ankara has also sold drones to Ukraine, angering Moscow. It also opposes Russian policies in Syria and Libya, as well as its annexation of Crimea in 2014.