Turkey Keeps Supplying Weapons to Ukraine while Offering Conflict Mediation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed surprise that Turkey continues supplying weapons to Ukraine while offering to mediate the conflict.

Turkey, a NATO member, has been trying to balance its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity with its strengthening energy ties with Russia and opposition to Western sanctions.

Turkey hosted peace talks between the two nations after the invasion and has repeatedly discussed brokering further discussions. However, Ukraine has remained firm on not engaging directly with Russia in peace negotiations, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Kyiv has rejected ceasefire initiatives.

In an interview with the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, Lavrov said Turkish weapons are used by the Ukrainian armed forces to kill Russian military personnel and civilians, causing surprise given Turkey’s statements about mediation.
Turkey supplied Ukraine with Bayraktar TB2 drones, heavy machine guns, laser-guided missiles, electronic warfare systems, armored vehicles, and protective gear.

Turkey’s defense and aviation industry achieved record exports in 2023, totaling $5.5 billion, up 27.1% from the previous year. Ukraine accounted for about 5.3% of those exports, similar to Azerbaijan (5.1%) and Poland (4.9%) but less than the US (16.7%).

Turkey and Ukraine signed a dozen agreements during President Erdoğan’s visit to Kyiv in February 2022, including a free trade deal.

Speaking to Euronews Turkish, IYI Party Ankara MP Kürşad Zorlu said Turkey has a comprehensive defense industry cooperation with Ukraine. Some inputs for the Turkish defense industry are supplied from Ukraine.

“Turkey’s goal of ensuring the sustainability of this cooperation is understandable,” said Zorlu, a member of Turkey’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Since Russia’s invasion, Ankara has strengthened ties with Moscow, increasing cooperation in trade, tourism, and energy.
Turkey has expressed interest in joining the BRICS economic union, which expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates this year.
Erdoğan met with Putin at a BRICS summit in Kazan, where they discussed shipping in the Black Sea and establishing a grain corridor.
Military observers note that Russian forces have intensified their advances in Ukraine since September due to their superior manpower and arms, while Kyiv has sought more aid and weapons from Western allies.