Turkey Ready to Send Peacekeeping Forces to Ukraine
World
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the possibility of deploying Turkish military personnel as peacekeepers in Ukraine during meetings in Ankara in early February with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Bloomberg reports.
According to the report, Turkey’s willingness to assist in monitoring the ceasefire is of great importance to its European allies, including the United Kingdom and France, which are developing related plans.
However, sources indicate that Ankara does not want to be part of any peacekeeping mission unless it participates in all consultations and preparations for its formation.
Shortly after the Bloomberg article was published, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing Erdoğan’s administration, reported that Turkey is ready to act as a diplomatic mediator in resolving the situation in Ukraine but will not send military forces.
"We have no such information, and no official statements have been made on this matter. Please refer to official statements," the agency quoted the Turkish presidential administration as saying.
On February 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow considers the presence of NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine unacceptable.
Lavrov noted that during negotiations with a U.S. delegation in Saudi Arabia, the Russian side raised the issue of deploying armed forces or peacekeepers after the conflict is resolved or an agreement is reached.
"We explained that the presence of troops and armed forces from NATO countries under another flag—such as the European Union or national flags—does not change the situation. This is absolutely unacceptable for us," the minister emphasized.
However, sources indicate that Ankara does not want to be part of any peacekeeping mission unless it participates in all consultations and preparations for its formation.
Shortly after the Bloomberg article was published, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing Erdoğan’s administration, reported that Turkey is ready to act as a diplomatic mediator in resolving the situation in Ukraine but will not send military forces.
"We have no such information, and no official statements have been made on this matter. Please refer to official statements," the agency quoted the Turkish presidential administration as saying.
On February 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow considers the presence of NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine unacceptable.
Lavrov noted that during negotiations with a U.S. delegation in Saudi Arabia, the Russian side raised the issue of deploying armed forces or peacekeepers after the conflict is resolved or an agreement is reached.
"We explained that the presence of troops and armed forces from NATO countries under another flag—such as the European Union or national flags—does not change the situation. This is absolutely unacceptable for us," the minister emphasized.
Powered by Froala Editor