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Türkiye has warned both Russia and Ukraine to prevent the spillover of their war into Turkish territory, following a string of drone incursions that violated its airspace, according to a report by Turkish news outlet t24.com.tr.
The warning came after Ankara summoned the ambassadors of both countries over repeated stray drone incursions into its airspace, along with naval mines washing up on Türkiye’s shores, raising security concerns.
Turkish officials conveyed a blunt message during the meetings, urging both sides not to carry out their war on Turkish soil, and the drone incursions abruptly stopped afterward, the report suggested.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Türkiye has maintained open channels with both Moscow and Kyiv while coordinating with NATO partners. But sustaining that balance is becoming more difficult. As peace talks stall, Ankara has joined Western discussions on a potential post-ceasefire security framework for Ukraine, the report added.
One area of focus is deterring future Russian aggression. Türkiye is said to be leading the maritime component of the talks, emphasizing that any arrangement must avoid direct naval confrontation with Russia in the Black Sea. Turkish officials remain wary of proposals that would increase the presence of non-coastal NATO members in the region, viewing such moves as potential flashpoints, the report noted.
Türkiye’s position contrasts with NATO allies that have taken a firmer stance on Russia. While Washington continues to press for reduced Russian energy imports, countries like Hungary have faced less scrutiny for maintaining trade ties. Türkiye, meanwhile, has come under heavier U.S. pressure despite similar economic constraints.
Unlike some of its allies, such as the U.K., France, and Canada, Türkiye is more open to a negotiated ceasefire. Turkish officials argue that securing a deal under current conditions may be preferable to one shaped by further battlefield losses.
The report argued that Ukrainian officials have expressed concern over what they view as Türkiye’s increasingly muted support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, particularly as the current peace plan remains stalled over the status of the Donbas region. Although Ankara continues to reject Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, its recent statements have been more pragmatic than assertive, it claimed.
According to Ukrainian sources, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is unlikely to accept any settlement involving territorial concessions, not even for areas not under Russian control. They stress that such a deal would lack parliamentary support in Kyiv.
With no breakthrough in sight, Türkiye is growing more exposed to the war’s regional spillover. Turkish officials fear Ukraine could suffer a rapid collapse, and argue that an earlier ceasefire might prevent worse outcomes.
While the U.S. supports a settlement, even one that could involve Ukrainian land concessions, Russia appears content to wait. Turkish observers believe Moscow sees time and Western fatigue as working in its favor, it noted.
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