Kremlin rejects Erdogan’s call for Crimea to return to Kyiv

• Erdogan maintains Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence.
• Peskov argues that the issue of Crimea is a point of disagreement between Russia and Turkey.
• The Kremlin announced President Putin might visit Turkey for talks with Erdogan.

On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia completely disagrees with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s comments about Crimea returning to Ukrainian control.

This week, Erdogan stated that Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence remains steadfast, and he described the return of Crimea—seized and annexed by Russia in 2014—as a requirement of international law. When asked about Erdogan’s comments, Peskov responded that the issue of Crimea represents a point of disagreement between Russia and its Turkish friends.

“Here we have completely divergent opinions. At the same time, we do not abandon our deliberate attempts to explain to our Turkish friends and colleagues our point of view, our position.”

Peskov claimed that Erdogan was under pressure from the United States due to Turkey’s traditionally close economic ties with Moscow.

“As for Turkiye’s attempts to mitigate US pressure, indeed, the US is exerting undisguised pressure on the Turkish Republic, not shying away from intimidation, with consequences for the Turkish economy,” said Peskov.

This week, the Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin might visit Turkey for talks with Erdogan once preparations are complete. Turkey, a NATO member, has played a crucial role as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine during their 2.5-year conflict, including facilitating a deal for exporting Ukrainian grain.

At a summit in Kazakhstan in July, Erdogan offered to help end the conflict, but the Kremlin has not accepted the Turkish leader’s proposal.

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