Poroshenko and Erdoğan: We cannot accept the transformation of the Crimea into a Russian military base
The presidents of Ukraine and Turkey affirmed their opposition to what they called the transformation of the Crimean Peninsula into a Russia military base, Interfax reported.
“We discussed in detail the situation in the occupied Crimea, and consider it unacceptable that, as a result of the temporary occupation of the Crimea, it has in fact turned into a military base,” Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated at a press conference in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Poroshenko also stated that he favors the participation of Turkey in international negotiations regarding the Crimea, namely the “Geneva Plus” format involving Ukraine, Russia, the US, and the EU.
“Mr. President [Erdoğan] and I called for joint efforts aimed at the de-occupation of the Crimea. To do so, we plan to combine our efforts in the framework of international organizations on the basis of the new international formats, including the format of Geneva Plus, with the participation of the signees of the Budapest Memorandum, Turkey and Ukraine,” Poroshenko stated.
The Ukrainian President’s two-day visit to Turkey will continue tomorrow with more meetings with Turkish officials as well as meetings with Turkish business leaders on the agenda.