Erdogan: Peace can only be established through dialogue

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who lately makes the headlines with war threats against Northern Syria and Greece, said dialogue is the only way to achieve peaceful solutions, while commenting on Russia-Ukraine war.

"As the president of Türkiye, I have stated from the very beginning that … a just peace can only be established through dialogue,” Erdogan told a trilateral summit between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan in Avaza on Wednesday, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Erdogan said Ankara continues talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in this direction.

NATO member Turkey who has forged close relations with Russia in recent years, sought to act as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv amid Ukraine war. Despite condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ankara rejected to follow Western sanctions on Moscow over the war. Turkey’s diplomatic efforts along with the United Nations paved the way for a grain deal between Russia and Ukraine to reopen Ukraine’s Black Sea ports for grain exports in July.

Turkey on the other hand, has carried out three large-scale military operations into Northern Syria since 2016 to combat Kurdish militants that sees as threat against its security. Launching an aerial campaign into the region last month, also signals a ground operation soon.

Erdogan also threatens Greece of “doing what is necessary” if Athens does not demilitarize its Aegean islands. On a latest occasion on Sunday, Erdogan said Turkey will strike Athens unless it “stays calm”.