Turkey has not ruled out sending troops to Ukraine as part of a peace mission and within the framework of an agreement for a ceasefire in the conflict with Russia, said on Thursday Turkish defence sources, who insist on the need to achieve a lasting and fair peace for both parties and on the key role that Turkey plays in the security architecture of Europe.
‘The question of contributing to a mission (of peace in Ukraine) … will be evaluated with all the relevant parties if it is considered necessary for regional stability and peace,’ said sources from the National Ministry of Defence of Turkey quoted by the Turkish press. ’Our belief remains that a just and lasting peace can be achieved through equitable and fair representation of both parties. Our country will continue to support all constructive initiatives that seek to guarantee peace in the region, keep the Black Sea a sea of peace, and contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine.’
‘We are coordinating with the relevant institutions of our government to follow up on the multiple diplomatic efforts to end the war. While this has been expressed in multiple forums, the question of contributing to a mission (of peace in Ukraine) has not yet been conceptually established, and will be evaluated in mutual consultations with all parties involved, if deemed necessary for the stability and peace of the region,’ said the sources.
These statements come amid intense debates within the European Union, which is holding a security summit in Brussels on Thursday to redouble its military support for Ukraine after Trump’s announcement — following the tense press conference with Zelenskyy at the White House — that he was suspending all aid to Kiev. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented on Tuesday an ambitious 800 billion euros plan aimed at rearming Europe in the face of the Russian threat and providing ‘immediate’ military support to Ukraine, while in the last few hours the French President has said he is willing to extend the deterrent capacity represented by the nuclear arsenal of France to the whole of Europe.
‘It is impossible to guarantee Europe’s security without Turkey’
In this regard, the same Turkish defence sources cited by the press recalled that ‘as a member country of NATO and the OSCE and an EU candidate, Turkey is an integral part of the European security architecture thanks to its developing defence industry, its key role in crises in the region and its powerful army. In light of recent events, and as the security architecture (in Europe) is being reconfigured, it is impossible to guarantee the security of Europe without Turkey.’
‘To continue blocking Turkey’s participation in defence initiatives of the EU for political reasons would be a serious mistake. In this era of growing security concerns in Europe, the full participation of Turkey in the defence efforts of the European Union is crucial for Europe to become a global player,’ stressed the sources from the Turkish Ministry of Defence.
Paris and London have already shown their support for deploying troops in Ukraine to guarantee a future ceasefire agreement, although it is not yet clear what role these troops would play and what would happen if Russia violates the agreement and resumes hostilities. But it is a fact that the growing rapprochement between the USA and Russia and Trump’s decision to cut all support to Ukraine has forced European countries to take drastic measures. Last February, several media outlets reported that Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan was willing to send troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force, and that he had discussed the matter in separate meetings in Ankara during the visits to the Turkish capital carried out by Zelenskyy and Lavrov.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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