Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that Ankara continues its relations with Russia and at the same time recognizes Ukraine’s right to defend itself and supports Kyiv in this regard.
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In an interview with one of the Turkish private channels on Sunday, Kalin explained that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is a cause for concern to everyone, indicating that the two sides will lose in this conflict and that the world will be negatively affected by its continuation.
He added that the Russian-Ukrainian war negatively affects the prices of energy, goods and foodstuffs all over the world, noting that Ankara has made great efforts from the first moment of the outbreak of war between the two sides in order to establish a ceasefire and activate dialogue in order to reach a lasting peace between the two sides.
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He pointed out that Ankara’s efforts culminated in the signing of the “Initiative Document for the Safe Shipping of Grains and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports” between Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations on July 22.
On the sanctions imposed on Russia, Kalin said: “Some countries are looking for ways to weaken Russia militarily and economically, and their goal is to bring Russia down from the status of a large country to the level of a medium-sized country.”
He stressed that the recently established Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul is continuing preparations for shipment of grain from the ports of Ukraine.
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Kalin noted that the agreement of the “Initiative Document on Safe Shipping of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports” could pave the way for peace talks between the two countries.
And he added, “If everyone boycotted Russia, who would facilitate the talks between Moscow and Kiev, and is there a leader in the world who has contact with the leaders of the two countries, except for President Erdogan?”
On Wednesday, Istanbul witnessed the opening of the Joint Coordination Center to ensure safe shipment of grain from Ukrainian ports.
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On July 22, under the patronage of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a signing ceremony took place in Istanbul for the “Document on the Initiative for the Safe Shipping of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports” between Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations.
The agreement guarantees securing exports of grain stuck in the Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea (Eastern Europe) to the world.
