Turkey clear on relations with Ukraine, Russia: Crimea annexation unrecognized – Turkish official

Crimean Tatars
Canan Sarıtepe
21 October 2021, 09:58
Canan Sarıtepe
21 October 2021, 09:58

Turkey’s position on Crimea is clear, it does not recognize the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea by Russia, says Turkish official.

Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Foreign Affairs Committee Çağatay Kılıç said this on Wednesday speaking at a TRT World Forum 2021 panel on "Turkey’s Grand Strategy: Regional and Global Challenges."

Assessing Turkey’s geopolitical position and relations with its neighbours, Kılıç remarked that the country makes its arguments and intentions very clear.

“There is a problem between Ukraine and Russia. Turkey is being close to Russia and Ukraine but making its arguments and ideas very clear. We do not recognize and accept the annexation of Crimea by Russia,” Kılıç said.

The official also emphasized that Ukrainian territorial integrity must be protected.

Kilic believes that energy and the post-COVID world would be the primary theme in the near future, which will require collective action.