Turkey’s Erdogan believes it unlikely Russia will invade Ukraine
Even amid the huge Russian military buildup along the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin is unlikely to launch an invasion, Turkey’s NTV news channel quoted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying on Jan. 17.
Erdogan’s comment contrasts with rapidly growing fears internationally that Russia may be preparing to invade Ukraine.
“I don’t view Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a realistic approach, as Ukraine is not an ordinary country,” he said.
“Ukraine is a strong country… For Russia to take that step, it would need to revise the situation in the whole world, and its own (situation).”
At the same time, Erdogan said that he would like to discuss the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Since late October, Russia has been massing troops at the Russian-Ukrainian border.
As of early December, about 100,000 Russian soldiers were deployed near the Russian-Ukrainian border and in the temporarily occupied territories in the Donbas, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in Ukraine’s parliament on Dec. 3.
International media have speculated that Russia may invade Ukraine in early 2022, in an operation that could involve up to 175,000 Russian soldiers.
Both United States and European officials have expressed concern over the situation. U.S. President Joe Biden in December declared that the White House was working out “the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do.”
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