Turkey not to impose sanctions on Russia
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Turkey does not want to be part in the conflict to protect its economy.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Archive)
As Turkey does not want to be put into a position of a party in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, it does not plan to impose sanctions against the latter, Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said as quoted by the NTV broadcaster on Saturday.
Kalin noted that his country does not want its economy to suffer, and believed that if the fight continues, it would be "naive" to expect the Russian-Ukrainian talks to have any results.
"This is why Russia needs to give a serious chance to the negotiating table," Kalin added.
Zelensky ready to meet with Putin in Turkey
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ankara or Istanbul, Ibrahim Kalin said on Saturday, as quoted by Turkish broadcaster TRT, who also noted that Erdogan had informed Putin about Zelensky's offer.
As for Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, he will agree to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Turkey on a conditional basis.
"Today, I will have a conversation with my Turkish counterpart, and we will discuss it. There is a negotiating track, delegations have been formed on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides, and they are meeting on the territory of Belarus. If I see that the talks with Sergey Lavrov can be substantive and would fit into the general framework of the negotiation process, then of course I will not refuse [to meet with him]," Kuleba said in a televised statement.
Earlier this week, Ankara expressed its preparedness to facilitate talks between Russia and Ukraine on its soil for the parties to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Erdogan to head security summit following Russia's operation in Donbass
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will convene a security summit following Russia's announcement of a special military operation in Donbass.
Erdogan had highlighted in late February 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.
