Erdogan's Spokesman Discusses Russo-Ukrainian Crisis

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalın addressed the Russo-Ukrainian crisis during a speech on CNN International, reports ermenihaber.am.

According to the source, Kalın stated that Russia would make a great mistake if it continues its attacks and does not provide an opportunity for a diplomatic solution through negotiations.

Expressing concern over the situation in Ukraine, Kalın mentioned that Turkey currently has no plans to impose sanctions against Russia and does not want strong economic ties, including energy, tourism, and agriculture, to be affected.

He emphasized that Turkey aims to remain in dialogue with Russia as a more critical factor in avoiding sanctions. He noted that officials from Western countries have also conveyed the importance of maintaining Turkey's relationship with Russia.

When asked whether there is a threat of a nuclear attack, Kalın responded that such a prospect could be catastrophic, and NATO's calm response to the Russian President's statements is entirely the right approach.

Kalın spoke about the necessity of de-escalating tensions and expressed hope that threats regarding nuclear weapons would remain only at the level of rhetoric.

Regarding whether Turkey’s positive stance on NATO expansion includes a possible scenario of Ukraine's membership, Kalın replied that they do not view that possibility positively at this stage.