Erdogan ensures support to Zelenskiyy and again buying arms from Putin.
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| [Erdogan-Zelenskiyy,©AA] |
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiyy's meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 10,2021 is the second meeting in seven months.
These two leaders met in a crucial time for both nations. But the focus on Saturday was largely on trade, tourism and defence ties between Ankara and Kiev.
Ukraine has dedicated jet engine making industry which is very needy at this for Turkish defence industry, especially for attack UAV's while Canada and other U.S allies are cutting the jet engine and drone parts trade with Turkey because of Turkey’s growing defence ties with Russia.
Turkey is opted to buy helicopter, drone, cruise missile and jet engines from Ukraine. Turkish next generation combat aerial vehicles equipped with Ukrainian engines are expected to be introduced later of 2021.
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| [Ukraine made jet engine ] |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says on a press conference, " Considering the defence and foreign policy which are interconnected, we have established a platform with our defence and foreign ministry to increase cooperation between our countries. This cooperation doesn’t pose any threat to any third country."
Vladimir Zelenskiyy said, " We discussed in details the issues od security and joint action and challenges to Black Sea region. It's worth noting of the visions of Ankara and Kiev are co-inside both regarding the threats themselves and responding to those threats."
But tension has been rising in the Black Sea region in recent weeks. Russia is moving troops and weapons to its western border with Ukraine. Russia is also backing separatist rebels in Ukraine.
Russia officials have indicated that Moscow may intervene to help Russian language speaking peoples in eastern Ukraine if the Ukrainian military launches a all out operation there.
The United States is considering to send two warships to the Black Sea region in the coming days. Despite the US Navy retained operating the area, this time The Pentagon believes that the deployment was to send a message to Kremlin that the U.S. is ready to play.
As a NATO member Turkey is supposed to support the alliance between any potential crisis between Kiev-Washington on its side and Moscow on the opposite.
But Erdogan fears this phenomena as this will make him to see angry reaction from Vladimir Putin. Russia and Turkey has a fragile relationship in Syria and Libya. Leaving the bitter relationship on foreign soil Turkey-Russia relationship is flying higher above than any other time.
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| [S-400 SAM, Russia.©RAND] |
Turkish military has purchased S-400 Surface-to-Air-Missile system from Russia despite deep concerns and threats from NATO and United States respectively. Turkey is also considering SU-57, a fifth generation stealth fighter jet, made by Russia defence and aerospace company Sukhoi after being kicked out from multinational fighter jet project F-35 by Donald Trump.
But this Turkey is increasing its ties with Russia's one of the main rival, Ukraine. This absolutely a two-faced game of Erdogan and Turkey - Russia relationship is on ordeal.
The author MD. Mahmud Hasan is a student at Department of Criminology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.