ANKARA — German Chancellor
Olaf Scholz arrived in Turkey on
Monday for talks on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, who hopes to facilitate a solution via direct talks with Moscow.
اضافة اعلان
The meeting in the capital Ankara will be the first
between the leaders of the two NATO member states since Scholz replaced Angela
Merkel, with whom Erdogan forged a special relationship.
“
@olafscholz is in Turkey for the first time as
German chancellor,” the German embassy wrote on its Instagram account, sharing
a picture of Scholz walking down his aircraft steps wearing a mask.
Ankara is playing a mediating role and has direct
links to the two warring sides.
Turkey is a traditional ally of
Kyiv’s but relies
heavily on Russia for gas imports and tourist revenue. Erdogan has called
Moscow’s attacks on its pro-Western neighbor “unacceptable” but shied away from
Western sanctions targeting the Russian economy.
For his part, the German chancellor visited Moscow
before the start of hostilities and has spoken several times to Russian
President
Vladimir Putin since, while providing Ukraine with arms.
For Guenter Seufert, researcher at the German
Institute for International and Security Affairs, Scholz’s visit aims to keep
Ankara on side.
“Nobody is demanding
Turkey to comply with the
Western sanctions but Turkey should not try to open extra channels to curve
around sanctions,” he told AFP in English.
The Europeans, according to Seufert, are carefully
monitoring the arrival in Istanbul of thousands of Russian citizens fleeing
their country, via direct flights.
Among them, he said, could be businessmen who might
try to transfer their companies in order to continue their operations from
Turkish soil.
“As Turkey is relocating in its region, and is
trying to fix things with the West, Germany comes to say it’s ready to help but
it will be an offer under condition — Turkey should not try to undermine
sanctions,” Seufert said.
Scholz’s visit comes as Ankara seeks to mend fences
with its regional rivals. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited last week and
Greek Prime Minister
Kyriakos Mitsotakis followed on Sunday.
Last Thursday, Turkey hosted the first talks between
the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers since the invasion of Ukraine began
on February 24.
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