Despite Ankara's statements about its readiness to help resolve the military conflict in Ukraine, Turkey continues to supply Kiev with weapons, such military-technical cooperation is puzzling Moscow. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Hurriyet newspaper.
"Unfortunately, Ankara continues to cooperate with the Kiev regime in the military-technical sphere. Turkish weapons are used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to kill Russian military and civilians. This cannot but cause bewilderment against the background of statements by the Turkish leadership about their readiness to provide mediation services," the minister said.
At the same time, the head of Russian diplomacy noted that Russia "highly appreciates Turkey's efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis."
"It was the Turkish side that in the spring of 2022 provided the Istanbul platform for consultations with representatives of Kiev, facilitated the conclusion of a grain deal. The Istanbul talks were "buried" by the Anglo—Saxons, forbidding Vladimir Zelensky to conclude agreements that could stop the fighting and ensure a balance of interests of the parties involved," Lavrov recalled, TASS quoted him as saying.
The Russian Foreign Minister expressed doubts that Turkey's mediation efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine "will be crowned with success," since Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree banning talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and the West, Lavrov, continues to help Kiev.
Lavrov also stressed that Russia is "open to a political settlement." But, according to him, it is not a temporary ceasefire that should be discussed, but the end of the conflict "by eliminating its root causes," namely, the expansion of NATO to the east, as well as the "creation of threats to Russia's vital security interests" and Kiev's violation of Russians' rights.