ANKARA/MOSCOW: Turkey is ready to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, President Tayyip Erdogan was cited as saying by broadcaster NTV on Monday, despite having angered Moscow by selling armed drones to Kyiv earlier this year amid tensions in eastern Ukraine.
US, NATO and Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have massed on the border of Ukraine, which is also battling Moscow-backed separatists who control part of its territory in the east.
Ukraine’s military intelligence has said Moscow was preparing for an attack in early 2022. Russia has dismissed the comments as “malicious” US propaganda.
NATO member Turkey has good ties with both Kyiv and Moscow, but opposes Russian policies in Syria and Libya. It has forged close energy and defence cooperation with Russia, but has also sold Turkish-made drones to Kyiv, angering Moscow.
Speaking to reporters on a flight from Turkmenistan, Erdogan was cited as saying that Turkey wanted the Black Sea region to be in peace, adding he was discussing the issue with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin frequently. “Whether it is as a mediator or by holding talks with Ukraine and Mr Putin, we want to have a part in finding a solution,” he was cited as saying.