By Janet Ekstract
İSTANBUL-On Monday, both NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and German Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger expressed positive support for Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s offer of mediation in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Stoltenberg commented in a Twitter post that he had already discussed Russia’s military buildup in and around Ukraine with the Turkish president. The NATO secretary-general said: “I thanked him for his active support and personal engagement to find a political solution, and welcome Turkey’s strong, practical support to Ukraine.”
Germany echoed Stoltenberg’s remarks while Burger commented: “Turkiye is a NATO partner, and we are also in coordination with our partners within NATO.” After Erdogan’s visit to Kyiv last Thursday, he said he offered to host a summit of Russian and Ukrainian leaders in Turkey to de-escalate tensions and work toward a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Last month, Stoltenberg had commented that allies are ready to meet with Russia to address issues raised by Moscow but highlighted that NATO “will not compromise on the fundamental principles on which Euro-Atlantic security rests.”
Meanwhile, on Monday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Russia to stay engaged in dialogue despite rising tensions. Morrison spoke at a news conference after a meeting of The National Security Committee of the Cabinet. Morrison said that this week, foreign ministers of the Quad that comprise the U.S., India, Japan and Australia are going to meet and will address the Russia-Ukraine crisis. As Morrison commented on the situation: “We would be urging Russia to remain engaged in the reciprocal dialogue. And any breach of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty is not a mark of peace, it is a mark of those who would seek to take sovereignty from others for whom it should reside with.” The Australian prime minister reiterated his support for Ukraine: “Australia supports Ukraine’s and their territorial integrity. And we will continue to stand with them on these issues and continue to engage with our partners on these very difficult issues as they continue to evolve.”
