There is a fierce battle going on between Russia and Ukraine on the one hand and efforts to stop it on the other. Turkey seems to be at the forefront of these efforts. In the past two weeks, Turkey has made every effort to resolve the crisis at the diplomatic level and has claimed that Ukraine and Russia have reached an agreement.
Three reasons are being told behind how this Muslim country suddenly became so important between two Christian countries. The first is that Turkey is closer to Russia and Ukraine than other countries. Second, Russia does not want the US or all the Western countries to take the lead in this matter and wants to be seen as a big brother in Eastern Europe through Turkey. Third, Russia has already tested Turkey's role in stopping the bloodshed in Azerbaijan, Libya and Syria.
Can Turkey lead the two countries to an agreement? What is Turkey's position and influence? To understand this, we spoke to Omer Anas, who teaches International Relations at Ankara Yildrim Bayazit University in Turkey.
Question: Turkey claims that it is bringing Russia and Ukraine closer to the agreement. What role does Turkey see in the Russia Ukraine crisis?
Answer: There is security cooperation between Turkey and Russia in many places, due to which trust has arisen between the two. There has been security cooperation between Turkey and Russia, such as in Azerbaijan, Libya and Syria, which has created confidence and prospects at the military level.
Turkey's offer to mediate between Ukraine and Russia is significant because it is in a position to practically deliver the deal.
Similarly Turkey has very old and strong ties with Ukraine. Ukraine and Turkey have good relations in terms of cultural, education, business and security.
Turkey is in a position to guarantee a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. It has an effect on both the countries. There are many other countries that can make a ceasefire, but they will be able to implement it, its chances are not very high. If Ukraine does not become a part of the NATO security alliance, Turkey can better fulfill this demand of Russia.
Question: Geographically speaking, Turkey is equally close to both Russia and Ukraine. How big is Turkey in this area and what is its impact?
Answer: Turkey has always been a big player in this area. Turkey has been here since the time of the Ottoman Sultanate.
A large area here including Crimea was part of the Osmania Sultanate. Later Turkey lost these areas in the war with Russia but its influence remained here.
However, Turkey has not played any major role here in the last 6-7 decades. However, over the past two decades Turkey's defense sector has grown tremendously and there has been an economic rise.
Turkey has also learned lessons from the wars in Syria and Azerbaijan and has activated its foreign policy. Because of this, Turkey's confidence has increased, as well as the trust of other countries has also increased in Turkey.
Turkey's defense exports have also increased. Turkey's drone Bayraktar has set a different identity and benchmark in itself.
Question: Turkey has given uninterrupted drones to Ukraine. Wouldn't Russia be offended by this? Why would Russia listen to Turkey?
Answer: Turkey is giving drones to Ukraine, but this deal of drones has already been done before the war. Apart from Ukraine, Turkey has sold these drones to many other countries.
When Russia opposed it, Turkey had argued that just as you have sold weapons to many countries, we have also sold them. The way Turkey has strengthened the armies of many countries by giving drones, it has also changed the way of war.
Ukraine's army has been strengthened by Turkish drones, this war, which would probably end in two weeks, is now getting longer. Somewhere within Russia there will be resentment about Bayraktar, but Russia has no choice but to continue relations with Turkey.
Also read- Ukraine's 'Brahmastra': The destruction caused by Turkey's drone, how long will this deadly weapon flying train and tank be able to compete with Russia
Question: If we see, there is a competition between Turkey and Russia in many places. What is the status of relations between Turkey and Russia now?
Answer: Historically Turkey and Russia have been rivals but not enemies. Both the countries compete to increase their influence, but it is not up to the level of enmity. In such a situation, wherever Russia and Turkey have come face to face in the world, their confrontation has also turned into cooperation.
Western countries were unable to build any model of cooperation with Russia in Syria. But Turkey made such a model through the Astana Peace Process. Turkey and Russia have also managed to cooperate in Libya and Azerbaijan.
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