Turkey not to clash with Russia on Ukraine: official
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US media reports that Turkey voiced on various occasions its support of Kyiv on Crimea, and a Turkish official says Ankara does not coordinate steps on Kyiv with Washington.
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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky
US media reported on Turkey's stance in the event of a military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as Ankara had on multiple occasions declared its support for Kyiv on Crimea.
Turkey has no interest in confronting Russia in the event it invades Ukraine, despite growing defense ties cemented by Ankara's sales of armed drones to Kyiv, a Turkish official told Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity.
The official asserted that Turkey would not enter the conflict despite its NATO membership and despite Ankara having military cooperation with Kyiv.
"Turkey isn’t coordinating steps on Ukraine with Washington and is acting independently to safeguard its own interests," the official asserted.
According to the official, Turkey's reluctance comes is in line with its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's foreign policy maneuvering. "[Erdogan] wants to preserve Turkey's interests," he said.
The Turkish NTV channel quoted back in November Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying Turkey was ready to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, despite Ankara selling drones to Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin alluded to Kyiv's usage of Turkish drones in the conflict zone in Donbas during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Putin told Erdogan Ukraine was sticking to "destructive" behavior in the conflict region, Kremlin said.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had revealed earlier that Turkey's stance on Crimes is one of the pivotal points of conflict between Moscow and Ankara.
Ukraine and several western allies have been accusing Russia of plotting a military invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow has long been denying.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month Moscow pursues a peaceful foreign policy but has the right to defend its security in the medium and long term.
