After meeting Putin. What is read between lines in Erdogan's statements

Igor Semivolos Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies Igor Semivolos: Erdogan continues to insist on negotiations (photo: Reuters) in an interview with Turkish President Recep Taiip Erdogan, the American PBS channel, there are two moments, which should dwell on the first time - the first moment. It is related to the agreement, according to the Turkish leader, about the exchange of prisoners of war. Erdogan hints that Turkey was a mediator during these negotiations.

And we can assume that this exchange concerns azovstal. We also remember that Turkey was among those countries that were the evacuation guarantor. However, information about the exchange of prisoners has not yet been confirmed by Ukrainians, I do not know here how Erdogan had the right to declare it. It is already, so to speak, on his conscience. Video of the second moment is Erdogan's statements. I would have allocated two. The first - Erdogan fixes the territory as of February 23.

He says that these territories must be returned to Ukraine. He does not develop this topic, but indicates that Russia will leave these territories, not focusing on what way it will be done - through the offensive of the Armed Forces or as a result of negotiations. But if we listen to this interview further, we can understand that Erdogan still continues to insist on negotiations as an effective way to resolve this conflict.

Turkish president, at least, demonstrates a realistic understanding that these negotiations are impossible now. But he hopes that in the future the parties will resort to Turkey as a mediator. And in this case of the exchange of prisoners, which is not clear, Erdogan represents as its effective and positive participation in the process. Another statement is Crimea.

And here Erdogan repeats his position, which has not changed, that Crimea is part of Ukraine and Crimea must be returned to his own owner. Erdogan does not decipher how Crimea should be returned, under what circumstances. But this is the position of Turkey, and Erdogan captures it again. The statement that Erdogan is trying to get a protectorate over Crimea, I consider the absolute fool.

And the fact that Russian Orthodox monarchists claim it is Tatarophobia, Turcophobia of the Russian Empire of the Soviet times. In this sense, Ukraine has laws, in particular, about indigenous peoples. We are moving towards restoring Crimean Tatar autonomy within Ukraine to ensure the full functioning of the Crimean Tatar nation. Therefore, it is not necessary to focus on Tatarophobian and Turcophobic theories of conspiracy.