Türkiye reiterated on Saturday it does not recognize the “illegal annexation of Crimea” by Russia ten years ago, underlining its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In a statement marking ten years since the annexation, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said: “It has been a decade since the Russian Federation annexed the Autonomous Republic of Crimea of Ukraine through an illegitimate referendum held on 16 March 2014.”
Ankara said it will keep “closely” monitoring developments in the region, “especially the situation of the Crimean Tatar Turks, one of the main constituents of the peninsula.” They will remain a top priority for Türkiye, it added.
The Crimean Tatar Turks are a Turkic ethnic group who consider themselves native to Crimea. They were forcibly uprooted from their homeland and expelled to central Russia, Siberia and central Asia under Soviet rule.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara has supported Ukraine's territorial integrity from the first day of the war waged by Russia in February 2022.
The minister was speaking at the 11th Global Baku Forum that was attended by more than 70 countries.
“Türkiye recognizes Crimea as the territory of Ukraine. We are working for a diplomatic solution to the war and for the security of the Black Sea,” he said.
Moreover, the FM ruled out that the Russian-Ukrainian war would end anytime soon.
He revealed that the two countries are seeking to establish a new security framework that may be negotiated soon.
“This new mechanism will contribute to achieving global food security and easing tensions in the Black Sea region,” he said.
Fidan highlighted Ankara’s role in reaching the Black Sea grain deal, which was beneficial for global food security.
“We achieved this, but it took some time,” he said. “We are now working on a similar arrangement with the UN and partner countries. I really hope and pray that we can reach an agreement.”
Türkiye continues to seek mediation between Russia and Ukraine and is working to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea and guarantee the safe implementation of the grain trade.
Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his ongoing willingness to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to reach peace.
Erdogan said he hopes his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will pay a visit to his country after municipal elections in Türkiye on March 31.
“We continue our dialogue with both of our Black Sea neighbors. Last Friday, we received Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Istanbul. And after the elections, we will receive Russian President Vladimir Putin,” he said at a Ramadan iftar dinner with foreign ambassadors.
