Moscow/Ankara/Kyiv: – A few days ago, Russia warned that Turkey must understand that the problems in eastern Europe will not end by supplying drones to Ukraine. A few days ago, it was revealed that Ukraine carried out attacks on the rebels in eastern Ukraine using drones. Russia is infuriated because of this Ukrainian attack. Thus, it has issued a warning to Turkey, the supplier of these drones. Earlier, Russia had issued stern warnings even over the military cooperation with Ukraine. But as Turkey did not change its stance, such a reaction was received from Russia.  

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Ukrainian Defence Ministry recently released a video. The video shows an attack on rebels in eastern Ukraine with the help of Bayraktar TB2 combat drones supplied by Turkey. Guided bombs were used in the attack to destroy the artillery unit of the Russia affiliated rebels. Following this attack, analysts in Ukraine have started claiming that the Turkish drones could become a ‘game changer’. Against this background, a spokesman for the Russian president reprimanded Turkey.  

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman of the Russian president, warned that after providing drone to the Ukrainian defence forces, Turkey started using them in eastern Ukraine. The deployment could further destabilise eastern Ukraine. Drones will not help solve the problem in eastern Ukraine. Although our relations with Turkey are good, Russia’s concerns about eastern Ukraine seem to be true. The situation is deteriorating further since Turkey has equipped the Ukrainian army with drones.’  

For the past few years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been striving to increase Turkish influence internationally. Accordingly, President Erdogan has taken several aggressive steps, including military cooperation with Ukraine. On the one hand, while strengthening the defence cooperation with Russia in Syria and Libya, Turkey had also initiated moves to enhance relations with Ukraine. Turkey’s sale of drones to Ukraine in 2019 is believed to be a glaring example.  

Under this $70 million deal, Turkey will supply six unmanned Bayraktor TB2 combat drones and other weapons to Ukraine. The first drone was delivered to the Ukrainian defence forces and it has been deployed near eastern Ukraine.  

Then last year, Turkey signed a military cooperation agreement with Ukraine. At that time, the Turkish president had said that Ukraine was an essential country for maintaining peace and stability in the Black Sea region. At the same time, President Erdogan made a sensational statement that Turkey has never supported and will not support the illegal occupation of Crimea. Erdogan reiterated the statement during the Ukrainian president’s visit to Turkey in April. At the same time, Turkey also promised to support Ukraine’s integrity and sovereignty.  

Turkey’s stance on Ukraine and its growing proximity was not well-received by Russia. While Russia has openly challenged Western countries, including the United States, on the issue of Crimea, Russia is highly annoyed with Turkey for supporting them. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had warned Turkey that encouraging the Ukrainian government’s actions against Crimea is an attack on Russia’s territorial integrity. We hope that Turkey will make the necessary compromises regarding its role, took cognisance of Russia’s concerns. 

The activities of Turkey, which is buying S-400 air defence systems from Russia, in defiance of the United States, are posing a challenge to Russian interests. Therefore, Turkish policies are ambiguous. It is clear from Peskov’s reaction that Russia is cautious about Turkey. 

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