Türkiye reassures Ukraine: we will be friends with Russia, but we will not recognize Crimea
Establishing relations with Russia will not affect Turkey’s relations with Ukraine in any way.
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Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Işık stated this at a meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak in London, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service reported .
During the meeting, the Minister of Defense of the Turkish Republic noted that Turkey condemns the so-called “annexation of Crimea” and supports Ukraine in its quest for independence and sovereignty. He stressed that improving relations with Russia will not affect Turkey’s relations with Ukraine.
“It is important for us to develop cooperation in the defense-industrial complex. The prospects for these relations are especially important in the issue of stability in the Black Sea region,” Ishik noted.
“The Republic of Turkey has been and is our friend and strategic partner. Friendly and trusting relations have developed both at the national level between our presidents and at the departmental level, between the ministries of defense of the two countries,” Poltorak said.
Turkey reassures Ukraine: We will be friends with Russia, but we will not recognize Crimea.