Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today warned Turkey of what he called “attempts to fuel militaristic sentiment” in Ukraine after Ankara took steps to boost co-operation with Kiev, Reuters reported.
Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared support for Kiev during a gathering of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine.
Erdogan then said that Turkey and Ukraine had launched a platform with their foreign and defense ministers to discuss co-operation in the defense industry, adding that this was “by no means a move against third countries”.
In an interview with Arguments and Facts published today, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said: “We strongly recommend our Turkish counterparts to analyze the situation carefully and stop fueling Kiev’s militaristic sentiments.”
He said encouraging “aggressive” Ukrainian actions against Russia’s annexed Crimea violated Russia’s territorial integrity. “We hope that Ankara will align its line with our legitimate concerns,” the Russian foreign minister said.
In an interview quoted by TASS, Lavrov acknowledged “serious differences” with Ankara on many issues, but insisted that this did not hinder dialogue with Turkish partners and the development of “mutually beneficial co-operation in various fields – from energy to tourism”.
Lavrov reminded that Turkey has resisted serious pressure from Washington and has fulfilled its contract for the S-400 systems.
Without underestimating the existing disagreements, while developing cooperation with Turkey, we will continue to be guided by the strategic vision of our common interests, the Minister stressed. Lavrov expressed confidence that this meets the aspirations of both peoples.
He also said in an interview that the Russian-Turkish center in Nagorno-Karabakh, set up to monitor the ceasefire, uses only visual surveillance methods.
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