Turkish aid to Ukraine reached Romania immediately.
5 truck hundreds arrived at Romania’s Vama Giurgiu border crossing with Bulgaria. The drivers drove by the blizzard in Bulgaria immediately to succeed in the border level. The help can now transfer by Romania north into Ukraine, Turkey’s Anadolu Company reported.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara additionally stated immediately that it had collected aid from personal residents in Turkey and Azerbaijan, together with primary meals. The provides have been loaded onto three Istanbul-bound vehicles on the embassy. From Istanbul, they are going to be delivered to Ukraine through Bulgaria and Romania, in keeping with Anadolu.
The Turkish Inside Ministry additionally delivered food, tents, blankets and beds to Ukraine on Feb. 26 through a truck convoy, in keeping with a tweet. The identical day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted Kyiv expects a aircraft from Azerbaijan carrying medicine. Zelenskyy added that Azerbaijan’s state oil firm will present gasoline to ambulances at its stations in Ukraine at no cost.
Turkey has good relations with Ukraine. In 2019, Turkey bought its Bayraktar drones to the Ukrainian navy. Earlier this month, the 2 international locations introduced that they are going to signal a new free trade agreement.
Final week, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to as the Russian assault on Ukraine “unacceptable” and a “violation of Worldwide regulation.” Turkey has not gone so far as some Western international locations in calling for sanctions on Russia, nonetheless. Turkey additionally offered to mediate between Ukraine and Russia shortly earlier than the struggle.
Turkey’s relationship with Russia is extra sophisticated. Turkey and Russia are on reverse sides of a number of regional conflicts, most notably the Syrian civil struggle. On the identical time, Turkey purchased Russia’s S-400 missile protection system in 2017. The 2 international locations have additionally labored to spice up financial relations in recent times, together with on tourism.
Ukraine requested Turkey final week to close the Bosporus Strait to Russian warships. Yesterday, Turkey stated it will implement the Montreux Convention, which provides Ankara management of the strategic waterways between the Black and Mediterranean seas. It’s unclear what precisely the information means for Russian ships.
Turkey started evacuating its citizens from Ukraine final week. An extra 26 buses are anticipated in Ukraine to carry Turkish residents again dwelling, and 128 citizens crossed into Turkey through Bulgaria immediately, in keeping with Anadolu.
Turkey and Azerbaijan may each play extra lively roles within the battle quickly. On Feb. 26, Zelensky thanked each international locations for providing to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
