A Conversation with Turkish Ambassador Mercan on the Ukraine Crisis

The escalating crisis on Ukraine’s border with Russia threatens Turkey’s gains in economic and military capabilities over the past 20 years, and quest for semi-great power status.  Positive resolution of the Ukraine crisis from NATO’s standpoint is unlikely absent Turkish support. The Wilson Center hosted Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Murat Mercan to discuss Turkey’s role in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

This event is part of the Wilson Center's Hindsight Up Front | Ukraine initiative.

Event Summary

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s actions in Ukraine are a clarifying moment. Turkey, an ally to the US, immediately condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a clear violation of international law. Turkey openly opposed the invasion and aims to minimize human suffering in Ukraine and increase regional peace and stability. 

President Erdogan of Turkey maintains that NATO should do more than speak or gather. Like Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan, a tragedy is taking place, and a unified stance is necessary. The international community’s initial response was to enforce severe sanctions against Russia to inflict financial and political consequences for the invasion. Implications of such sanctions tend to extend much further than the country they are intended to hurt, and therefore it’s essential to weigh the burden that sanctioning countries will carry. 

The Minsk Agreement, a series of international agreements adopted to end the 2014 Russo-Ukrainian war, is of utmost importance. President Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine is a clear violation of the agreement, and so far there have been no developments in achieving a diplomatic end to the conflict. This aggression has incited both internal and external opposition to Putin; indeed, protests have emerged in several Russian cities against the invasion. 

Turkey’s economic, diplomatic, and military capabilities have crucial geostrategic importance, which make it a key NATO member in the region. However, the country’s dependence on Russian gas and trade could have an impact on its response to the ongoing crisis and possible diplomatic contribution to solving the crisis. For this reason, maintaining the pre-Russian invasion status quo in Ukraine is preferable to Turkey as further conflict will threaten its domestic and foreign interests.

The world is changing, and every era has its own foreign policy agenda. There is great power competition, and increasing ties with partners and neighbors is vital for governments to better position themselves. Considering that most conflicts occur in Turkey’s neighborhood, improving diplomatic relations will stabilize the region and have a global impact. The new era necessitates enhancing cooperation with key countries.