Ukraine-Turkey meeting: Ankara opposes further Russian influence in Crimea

Mykola Knyazhytskyi, journalist, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, wrote about this on Facebook. 

He emphasized that this is not only about Ukrainian statehood, but also about the fate of the Crimean Tatar people.

"It was emphasized again: Crimea is Ukraine. Any other option is unacceptable. This is not just about Ukrainian statehood — it’s also about the future of the Crimean Tatar people, who face the threat of extinction if Crimea stays under occupation," the post says. 

It was noted that Vice President Yılmaz oversees relations with EU countries and has taken part in meetings with French President Macron and other European leaders about supporting Ukraine.

“Turkey doesn’t want to give Russia more influence in this region. Turkey respects the rights of the Crimean Tatars. Turkey supports Ukraine’s right to live freely, in line with international law,” Knyazhytskyi writes. 

According to him, they discussed this together with Crimean Tatar human rights activist Mustafa Dzhemilev and other members of the Ukrainian delegation, and the Turkish Vice President showed real interest in Ukraine’s situation. 

“We believe that in Turkey we have not just a partner or a mediator — but a real ally,” he concludes.