Turkey will not take any side in the conflict in Ukraine. This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an interview with "Newsweek" magazine, BTA reported.
From the very beginning, we have declared that we will not be part of this war. Our position is exclusively in favor of peace. The solution is not to have more bloodshed and suffering, but rather to achieve lasting peace through dialogue, Erdogan said.
We are in dialogue with both warring parties in an effort to bring them closer to peace. We had brought the countries together in Antalya and Istanbul. Our initiative to export grain through the Black Sea was actually much more than an economic and logistical activity, the Turkish leader pointed out.
We do not believe that limiting this war to the victory or defeat of either side is a solution. We believe the solution lies in dialogue and diplomacy, he added. According to Erdogan, the prospect of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is undoubtedly disturbing. He pointed out that any steps which might lead to such an outcome should be consciously avoided.
The Turkish president also said that negotiations could be held with Russian President Vladimir Putin. We don't agree with Putin on everything. However, we are able to discuss the problems with each other and try to solve them, Erdogan said.