Erdogan to head security summit following Russia's operation in Donbass
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Turkey's President convenes a security summit following Russia's announcement of a military operation in Donbass.
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Turkey's President chairing a National Security Council meeting in Ankara (AA)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will convene a security summit following Russia's announcement of a military operation in Donbass.
Erdogan had highlighted on Wednesday the necessity of maintaining calm and that Turkey will maintain relations with both Moscow and Kiev amid the crisis in Ukraine.
A NATO member, Turkey has offered to mediate the crisis before, while at the same time warning Russia against "invading Ukraine", saying Ankara would do what is necessary as a NATO member.
Erdogan told reporters on Tuesday that Russia's recognition of the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics is "unacceptable."
"We see this decision by Russia as unacceptable. We repeat our call for common sense and respect for international law by all sides," Erdogan said.
However, a Turkish official had told Bloomberg in December that his country is acting independently from Washington on Ukraine, despite its NATO membership, further stating that it would not enter a conflict with Russia, thereby casting doubt on whether Turkey has chosen what policy to adopt vis-a-vis the crisis.
Ankara and Kiev have economic ties, and have cooperated before in the defense field, with Ukraine being a client for Turkey's drones, inking a deal as recently as February 3 to significantly expand the manufacturing of Ankara's "Bayraktar" unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UACV) in Ukraine.
