Russia calls Türkiye’s weapons for Ukraine “a puzzling move”

Türkiye’s military-technical cooperation with Ukraine raises eyebrows against the backdrop of Ankara’s desire to mediate in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says.

“Unfortunately, Ankara continues to cooperate with the Kyiv regime in the military-technical sphere. Turkish weapons are used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to kill Russian soldiers and civilians. This cannot but cause bewilderment against the backdrop of statements by the Turkish leadership about its readiness to provide mediation services”, Lavrov said.

At the same time, the head of the Russian diplomacy noted that Russia “highly appreciates Turkey’s efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis”.

“It was the Turkish side that in the spring of 2022 provided the Istanbul platform for consultations with representatives of Kyiv, and facilitated the conclusion of a grain deal. The Istanbul talks were “buried” by the Anglo—Saxons, forbidding Volodymyr Zelenskyy to conclude agreements that could stop the fighting and ensure a balance of interests of the parties involved”, Sergey Lavrov, further said according to Eadaily.

The Russian Foreign Minister expressed doubts that Türkiye’s mediation efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine “will be crowned with success”, since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree banning talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the West, Lavrov, continues to help Kyiv.

Lavrov also stressed that Russia is “open to a political settlement” But, according to him, it is not a temporary ceasefire that should be discussed, but the end of the conflict “by eliminating its root causes”, namely, the expansion of NATO to the east, as well as the “creation of threats to Russia’s vital security interests” and Kyiv’s violation of Russians’ rights.