The United States and the West as a whole are attacking Russia “almost without limits,” prompting a natural defensive response, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday after returning from a Turkic nations summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Erdogan praised Russia’s “strong resistance” against the hostile activities of the collective West, noting that it is not a “ordinary,” but a “mighty,” state.
The West, and especially the US, is attacking Russia almost without limits. Of course, Russia is showing great resistance in the face of all this,” he said.
Türkiye is set to continue its efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine amid the conflict, Erdogan signaled, recalling a recent incident in the Black Sea that put the UN-sponsored and Türkiye-brokered deal to facilitate exports of grain from Ukrainian ports on the brink of collapse.
Russian naval vessels were targeted by sea drones near Crimea in late October. Moscow accused Kiev of using the grain corridor to stage the attack and briefly suspended its participation in the agreement. Russia also alleged that the attack was orchestrated by the UK, a charge London has denied.
Ukraine has also denied the accusations. Days later, Moscow reversed its suspension of the deal, claiming that it had received written guarantees from Kiev that it would not use the grain corridor for military purposes. Ukraine denies having accepted any new obligations.
Ukraine has also denied the accusations. Days later, Moscow reversed its suspension of the deal, claiming that it had received written guarantees from Kiev that it would not use the grain corridor for military purposes. Ukraine denies having accepted any new obligations.
Early in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey took a neutral stance, refusing to participate in Western sanctions against Moscow while maintaining military cooperation with Kiev, including the sale of a number of Bayraktar attack drones to Kiev. Ankara has maintained communication with both parties, attempting to mediate. It hosted talks between Moscow and Kiev earlier this year in Istanbul, where a deal was allegedly reached but later rejected by Ukraine.
