Ukrainian expert: Turkiye plays important mediating role between Russia, Ukraine

The recent initiative of Chief Ombudsman of Turkiye Seref Malkoc to open a humanitarian corridor between Ukraine and Russia shows once again that Turkiye’s role as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine is significant, Yurii Poita, head of the Asia-Pacific section at Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies (CACDS), and the Asian Section at the New Geopolitics Research Network (NGRN) in Ukraine, told Report.

He was commenting on the possibility of creating a ‘reunification corridor to help affected children, women and the wounded.’

According to Poita, Ankara’s current position is generally favorable for Kyiv.

“Ankara took a clear political position condemning Russian aggression, was able to agree on the formation of a grain corridor and did not let Russian warships into the Black Sea, guided by the Montreux Convention,” he said.

According to the expert, Ukraine would like Turkiye to also join the sanctions against Russia, but given the significant economic ties between Ankara and Moscow, this is still unlikely.

At the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s support for a statement about readiness to open a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation and treatment of the wounded indicates a readiness to continue to play an important role in mediating an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war and expanding areas in which Turkiye can help Ukraine, Poita believes.

The expert noted that the treatment and rehabilitation of the Ukrainian military is a very important assistance for Kyiv, since in the context of the destruction of civilian infrastructure by Russia, treatment in Ukrainian hospitals is problematic.

“Turkiye can be an example for other countries that currently take a neutral position in relation to the Russian-Ukrainian war,” Poita said.