Turkey’s Policy on the Ukraine Crisis

During his visit to Kyiv last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity as he repeated his offer to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the current crisis. Having inked a series of agreements aimed at deepening economic ties and defense cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine, President Erdogan highlighted the importance of his upcoming meeting with Putin by stressing the multifaceted nature of Turkish-Russian relations. Turkey has also vocally opposed the Russian annexation of Crimea since 2014 and continues to increase its defense cooperation with Ukraine, displeasing Russia. As an essential NATO member, Turkey pledged to fulfill its commitments to the alliance while criticizing Western countries for being unable to contribute to the resolution of the Ukraine-Russia tensions.

What are the main drivers of Turkey’s approach to the Ukraine crisis? Can Turkish mediation contribute to a diplomatic solution? What can we expect from the upcoming Erdogan-Putin meeting? What are the implications of a potential conflict for Turkey and the region?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a distinguished panel of experts to discuss Turkey’s policy on the Ukraine crisis.

Speakers

Jeffrey Mankoff, Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University

Yevgeniya Gaber, Senior Fellow, Centre in Modern Turkish Studies at Carleton University

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Moderator

Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC