Türkiye's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız, outlined Ankara's approach to the process and its peace efforts at a UN General Assembly meeting on the Russia-Ukraine war.
Yıldız said they were concerned that the war, which had caused numerous civilian casualties and extensive damage, was escalating as the deadlock in the diplomatic process continued.
Call to resume negotiations
Yıldız said reviving the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine was vital and stated that the UN should take on a greater role in this effort.
Recalling that Türkiye had pursued a determined policy in favor of a diplomatic solution and had mediated negotiations since the beginning of the war, Yıldız stressed that Ankara's diplomacy-first approach remained unchanged.
Yıldız said achieving peace would require difficult compromises and called on the parties to take the necessary steps and return to the negotiating table.
Yıldız said they hoped new rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would give momentum to the process and open the way to peace. Stating that they would continue working to end the war through diplomacy, Yıldız said Türkiye remained committed to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.
The situation of the Crimean Tatar Turks
Yıldız also said that Türkiye continued to closely monitor the situation of the Crimean Tatar Turks.
Yıldız said the welfare of the Crimean Tatars and the protection of their identity, culture, language and rights were of great importance to Türkiye. He said the Crimean Tatar Turks should be able to live in security and dignity in their homeland, stressing that their cultural heritage must be preserved.
Yıldız said Türkiye's position on Ukraine's territorial integrity had been clear since the occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, adding that this approach would continue to be maintained on the basis of international law.
