The possibility of Turkey joining anti-Russia sanctions is “unrealistic,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry chief, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said in an interview with local news channel NTV on Thursday. He noted however, that Ankara would be forced to follow sanctions if they’re approved by the United Nations.
“Turkey abides by international law, we will continue to pursue a balanced foreign policy. But if the UN approves sanctions against Russia, Turkey will be forced to follow them,” said Cavusoglu.
“But in terms of joining sanctions imposed by individual countries, I think these countries understand themselves that, given Turkey’s intermediary position, it is unrealistic,” he added.
He went on to say that Turkey’s Western partners often question Ankara’s position, stating that “They often ask “will you close the sky?” You need to understand that Turkey holds an intermediary position and is committed to stabilizing the situation.”