'Stronger Western response to Crimea invasion could have averted Russia-Ukraine war': Turkiye

By Merve Aydogan and Handan Kazanci

ANTALYA (AA) - Turkiye's president on Friday strongly criticized the Western world over Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, saying that a stronger response then could have prevented Moscow’s current war on Ukraine.

"If the whole West had clamored against the invasion of Crimea in 2014, would we be facing today's picture?" Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the opening ceremony of the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkiye.

Ukraine has been forsaken in its righteous cause, said the Turkish president as the Russia-Ukraine war marks its 16th day.

“Our hope is that moderation and common sense will prevail and the weapons will fall silent as soon as possible," he said of the war.

Reiterating his call to reform the UN Security Council – which he has called unrepresentative and outdated – President Erdogan said a new global security structure must be formed to better protect peace and serve humanity rather than the status quo.

While supporting Ukrainians’ legitimate struggle, Erdogan spoke out against demonizing Russia art, literature, or performers, saying: "Fascist practices against Russian nationals and culture in Western countries can never be acceptable."

Russia’s war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 549 civilians have been killed and more than 950 others injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN, which cautioned the figures may well be higher.

Over 2.5 million Ukrainians have also fled to neighboring countries, with another 2 million displaced inside the country, according to the UN refugee agency.