Türkiye said early Saturday that it does not recognise Russia’s decision to annex four Ukrainian regions, just as it did not recognise Crimea’s annexation in 2014.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Moscow’s decision “constitutes a grave violation of established principles of international law and cannot be accepted.”
“Türkiye did not recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea in an illegitimate referendum in 2014 and has consistently emphasised its strong support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty,” it said.
“In accordance with this stance adopted in 2014, we reject Russia’s decision to annex the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Herson, and Zaphorizhia,” it added.
According to the ministry, Turkey will continue to support the “resolution of this war, the severity of which is growing, based on a just peace that will be reached through negotiations.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the regions’ “accession” to Russia on Friday.
Putin stated that the referendums were held and that the “results are known, people made their choice.”
The Ukrainian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as Russian-controlled parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, held referendums on joining Russia from September 23 to September 27.
The international community has condemned the referendums, with European nations and the United States calling them a “sham” and declaring that they will not be recognised.