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Russia complains about sale of Turkish drones to Ukraine PHOTO/Reuters
“Russia is upset and from time to time they complain about drone sales. They used to complain and now they complain,” the bureaucrat said in a meeting with foreign media, as quoted by Reuters on Saturday (9/4/2022).
Read: US Turns Ukraine Trained To Operate Switchblade Deadly Drone Before Russia Invasion
“However, we have given an answer that this is a private company and the purchase of these drones has also been made before the war,” he continued.
Turkish defense company Baykar has sold the drones to Kyiv despite objections from Russia and signed a deal to produce more before the invasion, angering Moscow.
Turkey has hosted peace talks and is working to unite the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. Following peace talks between negotiators in Istanbul last week, Ukraine listed several countries, including Turkey and members of the UN Security Council, as possible guarantors for Kiev’s security.
Read: Revealed, Russia Uses Israeli Drones To Fight Ukraine’s Mainstay UAV
Turkey says it is ready in principle to become Ukraine’s guarantor, but details on the format need to be finalized. The bureaucrat also said some of the listed countries would face “legal issues” as security guarantors, without elaborating.
While supporting Ukraine and criticizing the Russian invasion, Turkey also opposes widespread Western sanctions against Moscow, saying channels of communication must remain open and casting doubt on the effectiveness of the measure.
Turkey has long maintained close ties with Russia in the fields of energy, defense and trade, and has relied heavily on Russian tourists. Turkey shares maritime borders with Ukraine and Russia on the Black Sea, has good relations with both and has taken a mediating role in the conflict.
(esn)
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