Russia: Ankara's Arms Supply to Kyiv Conflicts with Mediator Role

Yuri Plebsov, the director of the Fourth European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that "Ankara's shipments of arms and equipment to Kyiv contradict Turkey's intentions to ensure a ceasefire and do not align with its role as a mediator." Plebsov said, "Ankara has repeatedly expressed its desire to ensure an early ceasefire in Ukraine and to resume the negotiation process through its own mediation. Naturally, supplying the Kyiv regime with weapons and military equipment directly contradicts these intentions and does not correspond in any way with the role of a mediator." Earlier, Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara, Vasily Bodnar, announced plans by the Turkish company Baykar to start production lines for attack drones of the "Bayraktar" type in Ukraine, also stating that a factory for those drones could be established in Ukraine in 2023. Media reports indicated that Turkey had delivered more than 50 Kirpi armored vehicles to Ukraine.