ISTANBUL (PA) – The presidents of Ukraine and Turkey stressed the importance of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine and security in the Black Sea following a meeting in Istanbul on Saturday.
The visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Turkey took place amid renewed tensions in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces and separatists backed by Russia have been fighting since 2014. Russia has strengthened its troops along the border and warned Ukraine against the attempt. to recover the territory controlled by the separatists. Kiev rejects the claim that it is preparing for an offensive.
The accumulation of Russian military on the Ukrainian border has raised concerns in the United States and Europe.
“We have informed the Turkish parties in detail about the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine – Donbass and Crimea – in particular about the violation of human rights in the peninsula and its ongoing militarization,” Zelenskyy told a joint news conference.
During a visit to the troops, Zelenskyy said that the violations of an armistice in July are increasing. Separatist authorities have also accused Ukrainian forces of violating the ceasefire.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a continued ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and for both sides to find a solution to the conflict through dialogue.
“We hope that the worrying escalation we have recently observed on the ground will end as soon as possible,” he said.
Erdogan said Turkey had “strongly defended Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” and reiterated Turkey’s decision not to recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea. Crimean Tatars have ethnic ties to Turkey.
Zelenskyy said Turkey’s support is important for “restoring” Ukraine’s territories.
The two leaders also discussed the security of the Black Sea, with which both nations border.
“Our fundamental goal is for the Black Sea to continue to be a sea of peace and cooperation,” Erdogan said. “By no means do we want to escalate tensions in our common geography.”
Erdogan added that Turkey’s cooperation with Ukraine does not mean that it is taking a position against other countries. Turkey is a NATO member, but Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have established a close personal relationship, concluding energy, defense and trade agreements. They also landed on opposing sides in other conflicts, including Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkish and Russian presidents spoke on the phone on Friday, discussing Ukraine and other issues. The Kremlin said Putin expressed concern that Ukraine had “recently resumed dangerous contact challenges” in eastern Ukraine.
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Yuras Karmanau from Kiev contributed.