Erdogan declares Türkiye's neutral stance in Ukraine conflict

In response to a question from Newsweek about Western NATO leaders' stance on defeating Russia in Ukraine and the risk of a direct NATO-Russia clash, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized Türkiye's commitment to peace.

"Right from the outset, we have declared that we will not be a party to this war. Our stance is exclusively in favour of peace. The solution is not more bloodshed and suffering, but rather a lasting peace achieved through dialogue," Erdogan stated, Caliber.Az reports quoting him as saying.

He noted that the current approach has caused more harm than good for Ukraine.

Erdogan highlighted Türkiye's efforts to mediate between the conflicting parties, mentioning initiatives such as the meetings in Antalya and Istanbul, which provided crucial platforms for dialogue. He also pointed out the importance of the Black Sea grain initiative, describing it as more than just an economic and logistical activity.

"We do not believe that limiting this war to either side's victory or defeat is the solution. We believe that the solution lies in dialogue and diplomacy," Erdogan said.

When asked to describe his relations with Putin, the Turkish leader emphasized that while Türkiye does not agree with Putin on every issue, they maintain open dialogue to address and resolve differences between them.