Turkey Rules Out Sanctioning Russia, Citing Risk to Economy

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday said Turkey would not join Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine – and the West needs to understand how sanctions would hit its economy.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) during Russia-Ukrainian-Turkish diplomatic talks. Photo: EPA-EFE/RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that Ankara will not join Western sanctions against Russia.

“We did not join sanctions as a matter of principle and have no intention of joining [them],” Cavusoglu told a press conference. Cavusoglu said sanctions will not resolve problems and will damage the Turkish economy.

“Our counterparts ask whether we will join these sanctions, and we explain to them how these sanctions will affect our economy and [business] sectors,” he said.

Turkey continues to follow an ambiguous policy towards Russia following its February 24 invasion of Ukraine. It has condemned the Russian invasion and continues to have ties with Ukraine, but will not sanction Moscow or close its airpsace to Russian planes.

Ankara helped to equip the Ukrainian army, most prominently with armed drones, which have resulted in heavy Russian casualties recently.

Turkey hosted the first first high-level meeting between Russia and Ukraine last week in Antalya. The talks, attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, did not result in any breakthroughs but the two sides agreed to continue talks. “There is nothing to replace the negotiation process,” Lavrov told reporters after the meeting.

The invasion of Ukraine started on February 24. However, the success of the Russian military is being questioned and the Ukrainian army and people have resisted more than was expected. Russia is meanwhile being hit by record-heavy Western sanctions, which aim to cripple its economy and businesses.

According to the UN, more than 2.3 million Ukrainians have fled the country, seeking shelter in neighbouring countries, as Russia pounds major Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, the second-largest city, Kharkiv and the port of Mariupol.