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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara on Monday to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and other key issues, a Turkish official said to Reuters on Sunday.
The meeting will address recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, including Moscow's latest use of a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile in response to Ukraine's deployment of U.S. and British missiles.
Türkiye, a NATO member and Black Sea neighbor to both Russia and Ukraine, has condemned the invasion and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity, providing military aid to Kyiv.
Last week, President Erdogan criticized a U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles against targets inside Russia, stating that such actions risk escalating the war.
“From the start of the Ukraine-Russia war, we have advocated for peace through diplomacy, not more weapons, bloodshed and tears,” Erdogan emphasized.
He warned that Biden’s move risks provoking stronger reactions from Russia, referencing President Vladimir Putin’s approval of a doctrine allowing nuclear responses to ballistic missile attacks.
Erdogan raised concerns that the missile authorization could bring the world closer to a devastating war. He described the decision as reflective of a “deluge after me” approach, noting: “This path leads nowhere.”
He called on all parties to avoid provocations and maintain calm, likening any misstep to “throwing a spark into a powder keg.” Erdogan urged caution to prevent the conflict from spiraling into greater instability.
Ukrainian serviceman of the 24th Mechanized Brigade fires a 2s5 152 mm self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Nov. 18, 2024, (AFP Photo)
DONETSK OBLAST, UKRAINE - NOVEMBER 12: Ukrainian soldiers from the AZOV Brigade fly a reconnaissance drone from a shelter in the direction of Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine as Russia-Ukraine war continues on November 12, 2024. ( Diego Herrera Carcedo - Anadolu Agency )
The Russian Foreign Ministry building is seen behind the Army billboard reading "The Unity Leads to the Victory!" in Moscow on November 21, 2024. - Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing ordering her not to comment on reports of a ballistic missile strike on Ukraine, video showed. "On the 'Yuzhmash' ballistic missile strike that the Westerners have started talking about, we are not commenting at all," she said, referring to an aerospace manufacturer based in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)" alt="President Erdogan to discuss Ukraine war with NATO chief in Ankara">
Ukrainian serviceman of the 24th Mechanized Brigade fires a 2s5 152 mm self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Nov. 18, 2024, (AFP Photo)DONETSK OBLAST, UKRAINE - NOVEMBER 12: Ukrainian soldiers from the AZOV Brigade fly a reconnaissance drone from a shelter in the direction of Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine as Russia-Ukraine war continues on November 12, 2024. ( Diego Herrera Carcedo - Anadolu Agency )The Russian Foreign Ministry building is seen behind the Army billboard reading "The Unity Leads to the Victory!" in Moscow on November 21, 2024. - Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing ordering her not to comment on reports of a ballistic missile strike on Ukraine, video showed. "On the 'Yuzhmash' ballistic missile strike that the Westerners have started talking about, we are not commenting at all," she said, referring to an aerospace manufacturer based in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)
Answering the question of the journalists about the global war and how realistic the danger of nuclear war is within the framework of the doctrine, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan asserted: “Frankly, nuclear risk occurs from the moment the word nuclear starts to be discussed… This is not a joke.”
Referring to Russia, Fidan commented that attacks inside their territory could be tolerated until only a ‘higher tool’ is necessary to stop it if current methods do not work.
Fidan outlined that goodwill was demonstrated regarding normalization steps with Syria and that Trump’s second term is harder to analyze as it won’t resemble policies implemented during his first term.
Fidan also addressed Washington’s stance, noting that the U.S. has made it clear it will not allow others to invade any place they choose simply by threatening with nuclear weapons.
A grab taken from handout footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on March 1, 2024 purport to show the test firing of an ICBM belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces. - Kyiv accused Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile attack at Ukraine for the first time on November 21, 2024 but without a nuclear warhead in a new escalation of the conflict. (Photo by Russian Defence Ministry / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS" alt="President Erdogan to discuss Ukraine war with NATO chief in Ankara">
A grab taken from handout footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on March 1, 2024 purport to show the test firing of an ICBM belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces. - Kyiv accused Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile attack at Ukraine for the first time on November 21, 2024 but without a nuclear warhead in a new escalation of the conflict. (Photo by Russian Defence Ministry / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
President Erdogan and Rutte are also expected to discuss lifting defense procurement barriers between NATO allies and strengthening the alliance's joint efforts against terrorism.
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