Aydınlık: The United States is the reason for the prolongation of the conflict in Ukraine
The United States is the reason for the prolongation of the conflict in Ukraine, Washington “prevented” peace when it was close, the newspaper “Aydınlık” wrote on Sunday, citing a source in the authorities.
“The Americans are trying to keep the situation in suspense. America is the cause of the prolongation (of the conflict – ed.)… of Russia and Ukraine. They are also the ones who prevented peace when it was so close,” the newspaper quoted the Turkish official as saying.
He recalled the statement of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the talks in Istanbul last year, the newspaper writes. “Cavusoglu earlier made a statement on this issue and said: “Peace was very close at the talks in Istanbul. We were really hoping. But at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, I realized that (the conflict – ed.) will drag on, because some NATO members do not want it to end,” the message says.
Earlier, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who acted as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine at the beginning of the special operation, said that the negotiations were interrupted by Western countries.
“While everything is so clear, the excuses of US Treasury officials about the pressure on Turkey are unconvincing,” the newspaper quoted an official who commented on the talks held in Istanbul by US Deputy Finance Minister for Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson with Turkish representatives.
The United States insists that Turkey stop exporting goods to Russia, which, according to Washington, helps Moscow to continue its actions in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported earlier, citing sources familiar with the situation. As reported, US officials made such a warning to their colleagues at a meeting in Turkey this week. According to sources, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Brian Nelson met with Turkish officials on Thursday and Friday to discuss Washington’s concerns about the growth of exports to Russia, including American goods.
Nelson is the third senior US Treasury official to visit Turkey in a year, thereby increasing pressure on Ankara to force it to comply with US sanctions. According to sources, new visits from the EU and the US on this topic are expected in the coming weeks.
Earlier, Turkish economist Bartu Soral said that the United States is pressuring Turkey to impose sanctions against Russia.
The official representative of the President of Turkey, Ibrahim Kalyn, previously noted that Turkey does not join the sanctions against Russia, as this will harm Ankara more than Russia.
The West has increased sanctions pressure on Russia over Ukraine. The Russian Federation has previously stated that the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy of the West, and sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the main goal of the West is to worsen the lives of millions of people. The Russian Federation has repeatedly stated that Russia will solve all the problems that the West creates for it.