Erdogan vows continued efforts for cease-fire in Ukraine war, then lasting peace

Vowing continued Turkish efforts for peace in Ukraine, the nation’s president on Monday stressed a push for a cease-fire and then lasting peace to end the eight-week-old war.

“Ensuring a cease-fire first, and then permanent peace between our two neighbors will be one of the most auspicious works to be carried out for the humanity,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in the capital Ankara after an iftar (fast-breaking) dinner with a group of ambassadors for the holy month of Ramadan.

"I wholeheartedly believe that a peaceful solution can be found through dialogue on the basis of preserving Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Erdogan underlined.

“With globalization, our responsibilities to each other increase as well,” Erdogan said, adding: “Even if we forget or refuse to admit it, everything that takes place reminds us once again that all of humanity is in the same boat. We witness this bitter truth in many areas, from conflicts to economic crises, from the pandemic to environmental disasters.”

Amid these realities, Turkiye strives to fulfill its duties and play a productive role, said the president.

“We made intense diplomatic efforts to end the conflicts that started between our two neighbors. At the (March) Antalya Diplomacy Forum, we ensured that the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia met with the participation of our foreign minister. Then we hosted the parties in Istanbul to continue their face-to-face negotiations.”

Russia and Ukraine have made progress, but images from the cities of Bucha and Irpin as well as the targeting of civilians in Kramatorsk cast a shadow over Turkiye’s efforts, he added, referring to images of carnage that made headlines worldwide.

Despite negative developments, online talks between the parties continue, Erdogan noted, adding: "Both sides also say they are in favor of advancing the talks in Istanbul."

- Armenia, UN, the Middle East

The Turkish leader also pledged to continue efforts to achieve an outcome from talks in Istanbul that is satisfactory to both sides and the international community.

“The Ukraine war has once again shown how accurate our quest for the establishment of a fair world order is. The importance of our reform efforts in the UN Security Council, which we have symbolized by saying the world is bigger than five, has been understood.”

Erdogan has long championed efforts to make the Security Council more fairly representative.

The Turkish metropolis of Istanbul late last month hosted landmark peace talks between Ukrainian and Russia delegations.

Turning to the normalization process with Armenia, Erdogan stressed that Turkiye is “sincerely” continuing the normalization process and is also working to prevent “new tensions” and maintain stability in its neighbor the Balkans.

Long divided by such issues as borders and the events of 1915, Turkiye and Armenia last December named special envoys to discuss the normalization of ties. Two rounds of talks followed on Jan. 14 and then Feb. 24.

Stating that Turkiye is determined to maintain the momentum gained in relations with Middle Eastern countries, especially the UAE and Israel, Erdogan also reiterated Turkiye’s support for Palestine.

- NATO and EU

He underlined that the latest developments in the context of Ukraine clearly demonstrate the importance of both the NATO alliance and Turkiye within the alliance.

Erdogan added that EU membership continues to be Turkiye's strategic goal, adding that the negative effects of the war in Ukraine show how Turkiye is in a strategic position for the EU in many areas, especially security and energy.

Over the last two years Turkiye has supplied medical assistance to 160 countries and 12 international organizations, and to date, it has donated 6.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 19 countries, said Erdogan.