A “fair” settlement of the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv can be only based on respecting the ‘territorial integrity” of Ukraine, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said,
RT reports.
The minister made the remarks in an interview with newspaper Hurriyet that was published on Sunday. Türkiye enjoys a “special relationship” with each side in the conflict and is ready to listen to both Moscow and Kyiv, Fidan stated, noting that as a “friend,” Ankara must speak “frankly” to them.
“A fair resolution for the war must be based upon Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” he said.
Ankara has long backed Kyiv in its insistence on regaining control of the entirety of its internationally recognized territory, including Crimea, which broke away from Ukraine and joined Russia via a referendum in the aftermath of the 2014 Maidan coup in Kyiv.
The position sharply contrasts with Russia’s stance, that country’s leadership repeatedly stating any sort of potential settlement to the conflict must recognise the realities on the ground. Moscow also says that its sovereignty over Crimea, as well as formerly-Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, as well as Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, was not debatable. The latter four regions were incorporated into Russia in late 2022 after separate referendums were held in the respective territories.
