- Erdogan's comments came as NATO leaders gathered in Washington.
- Russia plans "response measures" to counter the "very serious threat" from the alliance.
- Erdogan's statement came a day after NATO allies announced the transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine.
Erdogan made his comments as NATO leaders huddled in Washington, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia was planning "response measures" to counter the "very serious threat" from the alliance.
“The possibility of a direct conflict between NATO and Russia is undoubtedly worrying,” said Erdogan, who is in Washington for a NATO summit. “Any steps that could lead to this outcome should be consciously avoided.”
Erdogan spoke a day after NATO allies announced the commencement of transferring F-16 jets to Ukraine, alongside increasing promises to Kyiv regarding eventual membership in the alliance. The statements came during a 75th-anniversary summit overshadowed by political uncertainties in the United States.
On the eve of the summit, Russia launched a barrage of missiles on Ukraine, resulting in dozens of casualties, including at a heavily damaged children’s hospital in Kyiv.
Russian news agencies published comments by Peskov, who also stated that the Western military alliance, holding a summit in Washington this week, was now "fully engaged in the conflict over Ukraine."
As a member of NATO, Turkiye has sought to balance ties between its two Black Sea neighbors, Russia and Ukraine, since Moscow's full-scale invasion.
Ankara has sent drones to Ukraine but has refrained from endorsing Western-led sanctions on Moscow.
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