Russian Crimean official mocks Erdoğan’s promises to Ukraine
An official in Russia’s Crimea Peninsula says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s promises to help Ukraine “reclaim” Crimea are a “false gift.”
Alexander Molokhov, an official in the Permanent Mission of Crimea to the Russian Presidency, commented on statements made by Erdogan after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he expressed support for the conference of the so-called “Crimean Platform”, his support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and his non-recognition of the “annexation” of Crimea, according to Russia Today.
“Turkey’s so-called support for the Crimean platform is clearly similar to the famous scene from the Aniada (poetic epic) of the Roman poet Virgil,” Molokhov told the Russian news agency Novosti. “One would like to say, following a priest from Troy – beware of the Greeks when they bring presents.”
“Erdogan has his own foreign policy goals and clearly his plans do not in any case include preserving Crimea within the Kyiv sphere of influence,” the Russian official explained, adding that “with an ally like Turkey, Volodymyr Zelensky does not need enemies.”
Sergey Tsikov, a Crimean senator and member of the International Committee of the Council of the Russian Federation, described Erdoğan’s position as “stubborn and unrealistic,” and said that repeating such positions (which Erdogan said) would never make Crimea return to Ukraine, and that “the status of Crimea as an integral part of Russia will never change.”
Ruslan Balbek, a Duma MP from Crimea, said Erdoğan had said what Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to hear. “But that doesn’t mean the words will be followed by actions, because Zelensky is frankly the same age as Erdoğan’s sons, and maybe the Turkish president just wanted to say something encouraging to the apprentice”
