Turkey and other nations must still talk to Russia to help in ending the war in Ukraine. Turkey’s presidential spokesman said on Sunday, adding that Kyiv needed support to defend itself.
The member nation of NATO, Turkey, shares good relations with both Russia and Ukraine and has sought to mediate in the month-long conflict.
As per Turkey’s presidential spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, “If everyone burns bridges with Russia, then who will talk to them at the end of the day. Ukrainians need to be supported by every possible means so they can defend themselves. But the case must be heard, one way or the other, so that grievances could be understood if not justified.”
Meanwhile, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has urged the West to give his nation tanks, planes, and missiles to fend off Russian forces. The West has responded to Russia’s invasion by slapping sweeping sanctions on Moscow.
Moreover, Turkey’s economy, which is already strained by a December currency crisis, relies heavily on Russian energy, trade, and tourism. Since the war began on February 24, over thousands of Russians have arrived in Turkey, seeing it as a safe haven from the sanctions.
At the same time, Ahmet Burak Daglioglu, head of Turkey’s investment office, told the forum separately that several Russian companies were relocating operations to Turkey.
As per reports, two superyachts linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich have docked in Turkish resorts.
Western nation governments have targeted Abramovich and several other Russian oligarchs with sanctions as they seek to isolate Putin and his allies over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.