Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has put an end to “worrying” escalation on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
Erdogan made the call during a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after meeting with his counterpart for three hours, Reuters reported.
Erdogan added that Turkey is ready to provide “any necessary support” if the escalation in conflict between the two countries does not subside, reports Reuters.
“We hope that the alarming escalation recently observed on the field will end as soon as possible, that the ceasefire will continue and that the conflict will be resolved through dialogue on the basis of the Minsk agreements,” Erdogan said. said. “We are ready to provide the necessary support for this.”
The remark comes amid renewed fighting between Ukraine and Russia in the eastern part of Ukraine near the border. The fighting began last month between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops, which called for a ceasefire last summer.
Since then, Russia has increased its military presence in the area.
The Kremlin also threatened to cross the border between itself and Ukraine with a Russian official declaring last week that Russia would be ready to defend civilians living in eastern Ukraine.
Turkey, which is a NATO ally like Ukraine, said on Friday that the US to send two warships next week to the Black Sea, which is expected to dawn from Wednesday to Thursday.
However, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby did not confirm the move, saying he often sent ships to the region.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran Said on saturday that Moscow is trying to put Kiev under pressure to hold negotiations by sharpening its military presence at the border, but added that Ukraine will not withdraw.
‘[T]the real goals of building a military presence by the Russian Federation along the Ukrainian border and in the temporary occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea may be the increase in pressure on Ukraine to force it to during the negotiation process , “Taran said in a statement on Saturday.