Easing Tensions, Istanbul Will Host Russia's Dialogue With Ukraine

Illustration Ukraine Military. (Wikimedia Commons/OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine)

JAKARTA - If nothing goes wrong, Istanbul will become the meeting place between Russia and Ukraine, said a Turkish diplomatic source, without indicating an exact date as tensions in the region have reached new highs.

The diplomatic source underlined that Turkey's position remains clear, namely to reduce tensions, prevent escalation and increase dialogue.

"Talks and efforts to convene the next round of the Trilateral Contact Group, consisting of Russia, Ukraine, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul are continuing," the source said, citing Daily Sabah Jan. 20.

Being a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkey has good relations with Moscow, despite opposing Russian policies in Syria and Libya. It has established energy and defense cooperation with Russia, while opposing Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine.

The news that Istanbul will host a meeting of Russia and Ukraine follows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that he is ready to facilitate President Vladimir Putin's meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russian military on the Ukrainian border. (Wikimedia Commons/Anton Holoborodko)

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said President Erdogan invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Turkey to "resolve differences" between the two countries.

"Turkey is ready to play any role to reduce tensions between Russia and Ukraine. President Erdogan is holding negotiations with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky," Kalin quoted TASS as saying.

"In fact, He (President Erdogan) has invited both of them to come to Turkey, if they want to meet and resolve their problems and differences of opinion," he continued.

Russia would welcome efforts by one of their international partners, Turkey, to encourage Ukraine to implement the Minsk Protocol, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

Commenting on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal to arrange a meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, Peskov said Russia welcomes any country's efforts aimed at resolving the situation in Ukraine.

"We welcome the efforts of any country that can help resolve the situation in Ukraine. The main disagreement between Russia and Ukraine relates to the delay in Kyiv's implementation of the Minsk agreement," Peskov said.

"If our Turkish partners can influence Ukraine and encourage them to fulfill their previous agreements and commitments, this would be welcome," he continued at the daily briefing.

To note, President Erdogan repeatedly stated last year that he wanted to mediate in resolving the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. In a telephone conversation held in December 2021, President Putin pointed out to President Erdogan that Kiev is continuing to pursue destructive policies aimed at disrupting the Minsk Accords to resolve the situation in southeastern Ukraine.

"We are doing this as Turkey, as a country friendly to Russia and Ukraine, but also as a NATO ally," Kalin said.