Mevlut Cavusoglu
Despite the positive development of relations between Turkey and Russia, Ankara's position regarding the recognition of the Russian status of Crimea has not changed. This was stated by the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Mevlut Cavusoglu, reports AMN News.
“Our relations with Russia are developing positively and we will keep in touch with Russia in the next stage,” the diplomat said at a press conference on Wednesday, December 30. At the same time, Cavusoglu stressed that Turkey's position on Crimea will not change.
Earlier in the Crimea, they explained Turkey's unwillingness to recognize the status of the peninsula. So, according to the Permanent Representative of Crimea under the President of Russia Georgy Muradov, this is explained by the interest in belonging to the peninsula “degrading and crumbling Ukraine with the prospect of subsequent receipt of territorial acquisitions.”
In October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that Turkey does not recognize the “illegal annexation” of Crimea by Russia, supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine. He added that he considers Ukraine a key country capable of ensuring Turkey's stability and security.
Crimea became part of Russia after the March 2014 referendum, in which the majority of the region's residents who voted supported such a decision. Ukraine and Western countries refused to recognize the results of the plebiscite.
