Kremlin says it disagrees with Turkey's Erdogan that Crimea should return to Kyiv's control
Reuters: MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia completely disagrees with comments from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that Crimea should return to Ukrainian control, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
Erdogan said this week that Turkish support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence was unwavering, and that the return of Crimea - which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014 - was a requirement of international law.
Asked about Erdogan's comments, Peskov said the topic of Crimea "falls under the category of disagreements between us and our Turkish friends.
"Here we have completely divergent opinions. At the same time, we do not abandon our deliberate attempts to explain to our Turkish friends and colleagues our point of view, our position".
Peskov said that Erdogan was under pressure from the United States over its traditionally close economic ties with Moscow
"As for Turkey's attempts to mitigate U.S. pressure, indeed, the U.S. is exerting undisguised pressure on the Turkish Republic, not shying away from intimidation, with consequences for the Turkish economy," said Peskov.
The Kremlin said this week that President Vladimir Putin may visit Turkey for talks with Erdogan once preparations are completed.
Turkey, a NATO member, has played a key role as a go-between for Russia and Ukraine during their 2-1/2-year-old conflict, including arranging an export deal for Ukrainian grain.
Erdogan told Putin at a summit in Kazakhstan in July that Ankara could help end the conflict, but the Kremlin has not taken the Turkish leader up on his offer.
-
- Agriculture
- 13 September 2024 15:33
-
- In World
- 13 September 2024 15:53
In World
-
European powers, including Britain, France and Germany, said on Wednesday they had to be part of any future negotiations on the fate of Ukraine, underscoring that only a fair accord with security guarantees would ensure lasting peace.
-
The amount of Russian and Iranian oil held on ships has hit multi-month highs as harsher U.S. sanctions reduced the number of buyers, leaving fewer tankers available to deliver cargoes and driving up crude costs, trade sources and analysts said.
-
Russia's President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, the first direct communication between the two since Sharaa's forces overthrew Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad in December.
-
A senior official in Ukraine’s anti-terrorist centre has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia, say security chiefs.
Leave a review