Turkish President Erdogan comments on Ukraine peace talks and regional security
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the conflict in Ukraine, stating that Russia should withdraw from occupied territories as part of any peace framework. He emphasized that achieving peace in Ukraine would hinge on the return of these lands and noted that President Vladimir Putin appears committed to resolving the crisis quickly, according to his remarks in an interview with a PBS television channel.
Erdogan underscored that for peace to take hold, the restoration of territorial integrity is essential. He reiterated that returning the occupied areas to Ukraine is a clear expectation and a desired outcome. In his view, Putin has taken some steps in the direction of settlement, and this aligns with the hope that a prompt resolution can be reached.
The Turkish leader confirmed that Turkey has been engaging Russia on the possibility of Crimea returning to Ukrainian control since 2014, a region with a significant Tatar minority. Erdogan urged Putin to restore Crimea to its owners, while acknowledging that no substantive steps have yet progressed on this front.
Erdogan also commented on the human cost of the war. He stressed that any confrontation causes casualties and that no party can declare victory when the fighting ends. He highlighted that Russia’s position would play a decisive role in the pursuit of a peace agreement.
He disclosed a meeting in Uzbekistan with Putin and described extensive talks that led him to believe Putin wishes to bring the conflict to a close soon. Erdogan suggested that a potential prisoner exchange, involving up to 200 prisoners of war, could occur in the near term as part of ongoing diplomacy.
In his broader remarks, Erdogan warned against the acceptance of mistakes after the fact. He pointed out that no leader would readily admit error, and the same principle would apply to Ukraine. He cautioned that once a certain path has been chosen, reversing course becomes difficult for those in power.
On the question of accountability, Erdogan reiterated that no invasion can be justified and supported United Nations investigations into alleged atrocities by Russian forces. He cited discoveries of mass graves and alleged torture facilities in Izium, a city in the eastern Kharkiv region, urging that UN-led inquiries help shed light on these issues and prevent a biased foreign policy stance.
He remarked that if a UN investigation yields findings about potential atrocities, Putin would react. Erdogan contrasted Putin with other leaders by noting that he prioritizes his country’s interests while engaging with Ukraine, the United Nations, and other parties involved in the conflict.
Erdogan also acknowledged that civilian casualties have occurred on both sides of the war. He observed that while Moscow initiated the conflict, there were a number of developments that preceded the war and that must be considered when assessing responsibility.
Accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO
In a separate thread, Erdogan criticized Sweden over what he described as a permissive stance toward extremist groups. He accused Stockholm of allowing a terrorism-support network to gain influence and claimed that terrorists have shown themselves within the Swedish political landscape. He asserted that Turkish authorities have shared evidence of such activity with Swedish counterparts.
He contrasted Sweden with Finland, describing the latter as calmer and more controlled in its internal affairs. Erdogan argued that Sweden frequently cites constitutional protections as a defense while downplaying concerns about security. He stated that terrorism has no place in the realm of freedom of expression and expressed concerns about the impact of security threats on national stability.
By late July, Turkey had reached a tripartite agreement with Sweden and Finland that removed Ankara’s veto on both nations joining the Atlantic Alliance. However, Turkish officials indicated that they could reimpose conditions if the agreed requirements were not met, signaling ongoing leverage in the alliance accession process.