Turkish Diplomacy Towards Russia's 2022 War Against Ukraine

جغرافیاوتوسعه ناحیه ای

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 March 2025

Document Type: scientific-research article

DOI: 10.22067/jgrd.2025.91447.1516

Author

hamid dorj^*

PhD student of International Relations at Gilan University

Abstract

After annexing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and facilitating the secession of Donetsk and Luhansk from Ukraine, Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to prevent the country from joining NATO and the European Union. Turkey is among the countries that have made extensive diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and establish peace between Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. While not joining Western sanctions against Moscow, Ankara has emerged as a third pole and mediator between the warring camps. Thus, the main question of the research is what policy has Turkey adopted towards the 2022 Russian war against Ukraine? The hypothesis of the article is that with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ankara's authorities have adopted a policy of mediation and counter-intermediation to reduce conflicts and tensions between Moscow and Kiev in order to gain maximum benefits from the possible options. By maintaining its position as a mediator, Turkey has maintained its relations with Kiev and Moscow at the same time and, while keeping diplomatic channels with Russia open, has also maintained and developed trade and military cooperation with Ukraine, which, while enhancing Ankara's prestige and diplomatic position in the international arena, can contribute significantly to reducing conflicts and creating a balance of power in the Black Sea region. In fact, it can be said; Turkey's positive role in the developments in Ukraine and its efforts to establish peace and stability in the region are considered to be a very strong trump cng trump card in Ankara's hands for accessing factors and platforms of power in the field of international diplomacy, which will greatly help ensure the maximum benefits of Turkish officials.

Keywords

Russia; Ukraine; Türkiye; mediation; rational choice