Turkiye Ready To Support Peace Efforts Between Russia, Ukraine

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has expressed Turkiye readiness to fully support peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine during a meeting with Valentina Matviyenko, chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia. The two officials met during Matviyenko’s official visit to the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, where they held bilateral and delegation meetings followed by a joint news conference.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

Kurtulmuş described the discussions as productive, covering key issues affecting both countries, the region, and the world. He referenced his September 2023 visit to Russia, where he met with President Putin and addressed the Federation Council General Assembly.

The parliament speaker highlighted the deep historical roots of Turkish-Russian cooperation, noting that bilateral relations continue to develop positively. He emphasized significant progress in economic, trade, educational, cultural, tourism, and energy cooperation, with bilateral trade exceeding $54 billion, though he expressed hope for further growth.

Position on Russia-Ukraine War

Kurtulmuş reiterated that Ankara’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been “very clear” since its beginning, characterizing it not merely as a war between Russia and Ukraine but between Russia and the West. He noted that despite Turkiye efforts to end the conflict, peace hasn’t been achieved because “some forces were in favor of the continuation of the war.”

“Now we believe that the will or wishes for peace are positive, and we are ready to support to ensure this peace until the end,” Kurtulmuş stated, expressing Ankara’s willingness to facilitate negotiations. He pointed to Turkiye successful mediation of the grain corridor agreement, which helped prevent a global food crisis, as well as facilitating prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia.

Syria and Middle East Discussions

The officials also discussed Syria, with Kurtulmuş outlining three main expectations for the new Syrian administration: ensuring territorial integrity, establishing an inclusive system representing all groups, and eliminating terrorist organizations while creating a unified national army. He expressed hope for Russian contributions to Syria’s reconstruction.

Regarding the Middle East conflict, Kurtulmuş described Israel’s actions against Palestinians as “genocidal policies” that are “unacceptable,” emphasizing that a two-state solution is the only viable path forward. He expressed satisfaction that Russia also supports this position and stands with the Palestinian cause.

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