Major party leader backs Turkiye's efforts for mediation between Russia and Ukraine

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), on Tuesday backed Turkiye's efforts for mediation between Russia and Ukraine amid ongoing escalation.

"The normalization of relations between Russia and Ukraine and the establishment of peace and reconciliation can only be achieved by a third country that has friendly and constructive relations with these two countries. This country is Turkiye," he told his party's parliamentary group.

Bahceli praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "sincere and principled initiatives" in this regard, saying the president's "privilege to speak simultaneously with Russia and Ukraine reinforces our country's mediation role."

He said Erdogan's forthcoming visit to Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to visit Turkiye soon "will be a great support for peace in the region."

"As the Nationalist Movement Party, we stand behind this process and wish that disagreements between Russia and Ukraine are resolved as soon as possible," he added.

The US and its European allies have been warning of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine as western estimates put the number of Russian troops positioned along the Ukraine border at over 100,000.

Russia denies planning for an invasion, maintaining its troops are taking part in routine exercises.

The troop buildup comes eight years after Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and began its support for separatist rebels operating in eastern Ukraine.