Turkey has reiterated its refusal to recognize Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, labeling the referendum conducted by Moscow ten years ago as “illegitimate.”
It emphasized its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Simultaneously, Turkey ruled out an imminent end to the Russian-Ukrainian war, now entering its third year.
It disclosed efforts by both countries to establish a new security framework that could be subject to negotiation soon.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Ankara does not acknowledge the de facto situation regarding Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which constitutes a violation of international law, reaffirming Turkey’s support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
In a statement issued on Saturday marking the tenth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the ministry underscored Turkey’s continued monitoring of developments in the Crimean Peninsula, particularly the plight of the Crimean Tatars, emphasizing their prioritization. It reiterated Turkey’s support for the safety and sovereignty of Ukrainian territory.
The Crimean Tatars are a Turkish ethnic group whose original homeland is the Crimean Peninsula, now part of Ukraine, and who were subjected to forced deportations to central Russia, Siberia, and Turkish-speaking Central Asian countries under Soviet rule.
Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in a referendum held on March 16, 2014, whose results were not recognized by the international community, leading to sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and several other countries.
In the same context, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan affirmed his country’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, including Crimea, both politically and practically.
Fidan, speaking at the 11th session of the World Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, themed “Repairing the Torn World,” stressed the necessity of negotiating a solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
He stated that Turkey has maintained a principled stance since the beginning of the conflict, indicating that Russia and Ukraine are evaluating the possibility of establishing a new security framework, hinting at potential agreements between the two countries in this regard.
Fidan added that this new mechanism would contribute to global food security and easing tensions in the Black Sea region, while ruling out an imminent end to the war now entering its third year.
He pointed out that the staggering loss of lives and material damages resulting from their conflict has led the efforts to resolve the crisis to a deadlock.
Fidan clarified that reaching a negotiated solution to protect Ukraine’s legitimate interests is a priority, but this “does not imply recognition of Russian occupation.”
Turkey seeks to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to cease fire and end the war while working to resume the Safe Passage Agreement for grains in the Black Sea, which was suspended in July last year after a year of implementation due to Moscow’s refusal to renew it over the non-compliance of its specific part of the agreement signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, between the warring parties, mediated by Turkey under the auspices of the United Nations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated last week that his country continues its dialogue with its neighbors in the Black Sea, Russia and Ukraine, seeking to halt the ongoing war between them for more than two years.
He added, during a breakfast with foreign ambassadors accredited in Ankara, that he would host his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, after the local elections scheduled in Turkey on March 31, following his reception of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul the week before last, indicating that Turkey has exerted its utmost effort through its fair and principled approach to achieving peace in the ongoing war in Ukraine for the third year.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum held in southern Turkey from March 1 to 3, that the time has come to start a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine to halt the ceasefire, regardless of the sovereignty issue, indicating that it does not imply recognition of Russia’s occupation of some Ukrainian territories.