Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that US President Joe Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to deep strikes in Russia will lead to an escalation of the conflict and a stronger Russian reaction, Turkish state TV TRT Haber reported.
According to Erdogan, with the understanding "after me and a flood" will get nowhere, and since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Turkey has been an advocate of finding a solution through more peace efforts, more goodwill and diplomacy.
We do not find this decision correct, we do not approve of it, the Turkish leader told journalists on board the plane returning from Brazil, where he was to participate in the G-20 meeting.
In Erdoğan's words, the step taken by Biden can be interpreted as "a move to inflame the war, a move to make it so that it never ends and even spreads.
"This step by Mr. Biden, in addition to causing an escalation of the conflict, will also pave the way for a stronger reaction from Russia. Mr Putin also endorsed a doctrine that allows his country to respond with nuclear weapons in the event of a ballistic missile attack. All this can bring the region and the world to the brink of a new and big war," Erdoğan warned.
The Turkish president expressed hope that the Ukrainian and Russian sides will "focus on peace, keeping calm and not giving in to provocations". He warned that in "the environment created after this big mistake, the slightest omission or giving in to provocations would mean throwing fire into a powder keg.
"That is why I advise everyone to act carefully,", he added.