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Russia has no plans to pause military operations in Ukraine because any ceasefire would allow Kyiv to rebuild its forces, obtain more Western funding and weapons, and continue the fighting, Russia's ambassador to Türkiye, Sergey Vershinin, said on Thursday.
Speaking in an interview with Haberturk TV on Thursday, Vershinin said Moscow remains committed to resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic means, but insisted that any settlement must address what Russia describes as the conflict's underlying causes.
Vershinin argued that suspending military operations would undermine prospects for a lasting resolution by giving Ukraine time to rebuild its military capabilities.
"We have always supported resolving the conflict in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means. At the same time, we have always made it clear that the most important thing is to find a solution that helps eliminate the fundamental and root causes of the conflict," he said.
"A pause in military operations would allow the Kyiv regime's forces to regroup and receive more funding and weapons to continue their aggressive actions."
The ambassador also accused the Ukrainian Armed Forces of carrying out attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, describing them as acts of terrorism.
As an example, he pointed to an alleged strike on a high school in Starobelsk, claiming young people were killed while sleeping. "This is a manifestation of terrorism," Vershinin said.
Vershinin rejected accusations that Russia poses a threat to neighboring countries or Europe.
"We have never had aggressive intentions toward neighboring or European countries. History shows that it was those who attacked Russia and threatened Russia's security," he said.
"It is impossible to build one's own security at the expense of someone else's security. This is unacceptable. This principle is enshrined in many international documents, including those of the United Nations and the OSCE. Unfortunately, many Western European capitals have forgotten this."
Turning to bilateral ties, Vershinin welcomed the continued expansion of economic cooperation between Russia and Türkiye. He noted that annual trade between the two countries stands at around $50 billion, adding that there is still room for further growth.
The ambassador also described the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant as a cornerstone of Russian-Turkish economic and technological cooperation, saying the project represents a breakthrough for Türkiye in a new field and that Russia is pleased to contribute to it.
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