NATO should have taken more determined step: Turkiye's president on Ukraine crisis

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) – NATO should have taken a more determined step, Turkiye's president said on Friday, as the Russian military intervention in Ukraine unfolds.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the Western stance on the Russian attack on its neighbor, saying it still gives advices as it has offered "plenty of advice until today".

Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul, the president said: "The European Union, as well as all the other Western conceptions, unfortunately, have not taken a serious and resolute stance at the moment (in Ukraine)."

On Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's remarks that they were left to fight "alone," Erdogan said that the West's advice and failure to show a determined stance "does not comply with friendship or solidarity."

Earlier Friday, Zelenskyy said in a video message shared on social media: "This morning we are defending our state alone ... The world's most powerful forces are watching from afar."

Later in the day, NATO will hold a virtual meeting of heads of state and government of the alliance to discuss consequences of Russia's attack on Ukraine, with the Turkish president set to attend.

"It should not turn to be into a mere array of condemnation, NATO should be more determined," Erdogan said, referring to the NATO summit.

Defying threats of sanctions by the West, Moscow officially recognized Ukraine's regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states earlier this week, followed by the start of a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday.

Tensions started escalating late last year when Ukraine, the US and its allies accused Russia of amassing tens of thousands of troops on the border with Ukraine.

They claimed that Russia was preparing to invade its western neighbor, allegations that were consistently rejected by Moscow.