Russia completely disagrees with comments from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that Crimea should return to Ukrainian control, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
Erdogan said this week that Turkish support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence was unwavering, and that the return of Crimea - which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014 - was a requirement of international law.
Asked about Erdogan's comments, Peskov said the topic of Crimea "falls under the category of disagreements between us and our 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 said that Erdogan was under pressure from the United States over its traditionally close economic ties with Moscow
"As for Turkey's attempts to mitigate U.S. pressure, indeed, the U.S. is exerting undisguised pressure on the Turkish Republic, not shying away from intimidation, with consequences for the Turkish economy," said Peskov.
The Kremlin said this week that President Vladimir Putin may visit Turkey for talks with Erdogan once preparations are completed.
Turkey, a NATO member, has played a key role as a go-between for Russia and Ukraine during their 2-1/2-year-old conflict, including arranging an export deal for Ukrainian grain.
Erdogan told Putin at a summit in Kazakhstan in July that Ankara could help end the conflict, but the Kremlin has not taken the Turkish leader up on his offer.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.
28 Comments
Banthu
Inflation in Turkey is sky high.
And the pressure from their Western colonial masters, who won't let Turkey join the EU, will continue.
This is more fallout from Turkey's decision to buy the technically superior S400 to American Patriots, which have since been proven unable to stop Kinzhals and Iskandars.
JJE
Sevastopol cannot withdraw from Crimea. Hero City many times over in many, many conflicts. Now a Federal Subject of the Russian Federation. Same country has owned it since 1783.
Erdogan is obviously under pressure and playing to an audience somewhere.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Seems all is not roses in investment club Brics.
TaiwanIsNotChina
S400s are so superior they apparently can't defend themselves from attack.
Hercolobus
The people are Russian and want to be part of Russia so why go back?
stormcrow
Well, at least Turkey is calling a spade a spade. That’s a bit surprising.
JJE
Erdogan has done his part by helping Russia avoid sanctions and win.
This is called throwing something a bone to pretend all is well.
TaiwanIsNotChina
They also locked up Russia's black sea fleet and gave Kyiv breathing room to set up it's export corridor. All in all not a bad friend to Ukraine.
JJE
Doesn't change the opinion of anyone in Yalta, Balaclava or Simferopol.
They voted in 1991 to stay part with Russia in the controversial event. They have always voted for a friend of the east in every election - look at the electoral map 91 to 2014.
And it doesn't change the fact of 1783.
Underworld
JJE
Sure, it can.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Thankfully there are laws against removing parts of countries as that could equally be used to remove parts of Russia.
The irrelevant fact of 1783 which was superseded by 1954 and 1991.
John
The Russians are leaving. The only issues is how many Russians die first.
Primusinter
Crimea is a divine place! I do not understand why Ukraine, owning it for several decades, has done little to develop this region. Here, every stone, every step is a piece of the history of the Russian Empire. There is nothing Ukrainian in the history of Crimea. As well as the history of Ukraine itself does not exist. Ukraine does not need Crimea! NATO needs Crimea! This is the center of the world, this is not Okinawa. I've told you this many times. NATO has opened its mouth too wide to command the whole world from Crimea. Russians live here - it is a problem: it has been a Russian land for a long time. Crimea will never be American. Forget about Crimea.
Primusinter
Where are Russians leaving? The topic of the article is Crimea. This Sumner 5 mln citizens of Russia has had a rest on the the southern coast of Crimea.
Eastmann
The Russians are leaving. The only issues is how many Russians die first.
Great example of locally tolerated open russophobia.
I am sure that you have never heard abt Crime before 2014 but now you are a crimean expert here... :) wikipedia graduate.
as Primusinter wrote above-Crimea is a nice place I was there few times in Yalta and area and can confirm that during UA rule it was literally forgotten place...so different than now.
Primusinter
Within 10 years, Russia has done a lot for the development of the region. Excellent roads, new schools, kindergartens, sports complexes, power plants. In 2014, Crimea passed to Russia almost in ruins. Artek, an international children's camp, had been closed by that time, and its director was in prison for pedophilia. Now there are 9 new children camps on the site of Artek, which work all year round. What kind of Ukraine do you see here? The level of Russian patriotism here is the highest in Russia!
TaiwanIsNotChina
Fascinating considering it had only ever been under corrupt Yanukovych and Russian administration.
The guaranteed by three international treaties.
TaiwanIsNotChina
*kind guaranteed
Primusinter
The will of the people expressed in the referendum is the supreme law
TaiwanIsNotChina
Perhaps we'll get that referendum in Chechnya for you someday. Also there is no need to complain further about Syrian Kurds doing their own thing.
TokyoLiving
With your nonsense you will never enter the BRICS..
Crimes is Russian, for ever..
TokyoLiving
Crimes, LOL...
CRIMEA !!!..
Primusinter
And what are the Turkish Kurds doing? Who will complain about them?
Primusinter
You will never get anything on the territory of Russia. At least during the rest of your life.
Desert Tortoise
Crimea was part of the old Ottoman Empire and the Turks, and in particular the Sultan of Ankara, fancy themselves as the leaders of the Turkic speaking world, except it seems Xinjiang. Until the most recent Russian invasion Turkey was financing the settlement of Tartars in Crimea and along the Black Sea coast in eastern Ukraine, financing the construction of new towns for them to live in so they could move there from other parts of Russia. He apparently still has a long term goal of seeing Crimea settled by Tartars and not part of Russia. That position probably doesn't advance his ambition to join BRICS but the Russians haven't been in any hurry to bring Turkey in, hinting that they are not accepting new members amid rumors that India is opposed to Turkey joining the group.
Primusinter
Very interesting:) Desert Tortoise, You're rare among the local experts here with some knowledge of geography. Please name the cities in Crimea that Turkey has built for the Tatars. Apart from Bakhchisarai, I do not know a single settlement. and I'm not sure that Turkey participated in its development. Russia has almost completed the construction of a luxurious mosque in Simferopol, the largest in Europe. And there are no signs about Turkey's participation here. Turkey could finance extremist organizations, but there is not even a hint of peaceful Turkish construction.
Primusinter
Please, could anybody of the experts here explain what it looks like the Putin's falling autocracy. Numerous and facts. Please!
Primusinter
The key word is "I". Usually you speak "all know":))))