A report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung comments on the Turkish president’s sixth visit to Kiev since 2019 and Turkey’s efforts to prevent a military conflict between Ukraine and Russia: “Erdogan pledged his country’s intention to support Ukraine in Kiev. He also confirmed his willingness to mediate between Kiev and Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the offer. “Before leaving for Kiev, Erdogan said Putin was expected to meet with him in Ankara in the days following his return from Beijing.”
According to the German newspaper, the Turkish president “walks on a tightrope. Not only because Ankara bought the Russian S-400 air defense system. Turkey receives 40% of its natural gas from Russia, with no other alternative available. “In addition, the Russians have traditionally been the largest group of holidaymakers in Turkey, and Russia is a very important market for Turkish agricultural products.”
On the other hand, Erdogan supports a larger NATO presence in the Black Sea region. Turkey is concerned that Russia has massively increased its naval presence in the Black Sea since the annexation of Crimea.
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DW – Chryssa Vachtsevanou
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