Turkey confirms it does not recognize annexation of Crimea

Turkey's stance on the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia remains unchanged.

"Turkey supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea, which cannot be said of some Western countries who occasionally forget about this fact," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said during his visit to Estonia, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He also pointed out that Turkey's relations with the Russian Federation should not be regarded as an alternative to cooperation with Ukraine. "We are developing positive ties not only with Russia but with many other countries as well, including Ukraine and Estonia," he added.

The Turkish foreign minister also noted that relations with the Russian Federation should not be seen as an alternative to his country's membership in NATO or the development of relations with the EU.

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