Turkey rejects Russia’s Ukrainian annexation

• Turkey says it does not recognise Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
• It also rejected its intention to annex Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
• Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, NATO member Turkey has acted diplomatically.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry says Russia’s takeover of four Ukrainian areas is a “grave violation” of international law.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, NATO member Turkey has acted diplomatically. Ankara opposes Western sanctions on Russia and maintains close connections with Moscow and Kyiv. It condemned Russia’s invasion and supplied armed drones to Ukraine.

The Turkish ministry said Saturday it did not recognise Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and rejected its intention to annex Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

This judgement violates international law, the government claimed.

“We reiterate our support for a just peace that will be realised through discussions”

Putin hailed the annexation of the areas on Friday, vowing Moscow will win its “special military operation” despite a possible military reversal.

His statement followed Russia’s referendums in occupied Ukraine. Western governments and Kyiv alleged the ballots were coerced and non-representative.

U.S., U.K., and Canada responded with fresh measures.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Friday his country has submitted a fast-track NATO application and he won’t hold peace negotiations with Russia while Putin is in office.

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