Behind Russia: What Erdogan was in secret negotiations with Zelensky
The next statement by Recep Erdogan, which caused quite natural indignation in Russia and bewilderment in Turkey itself, regarding the “non-recognition of the Crimea’s belonging” to our country, is in fact only the tip of a much larger and sinister political “iceberg”. The rhetoric of the Turkish leader on the "Crimean issue" should not surprise - below I will explain why. Closed negotiations between the two presidents lasting two hours (twice as long as was originally planned) - this is much more serious. What could this conversation be conducted behind Russia’s back and what are its first results that have become obvious?
According to the official version, the main objectives of Zelensky’s visit to Ankara were purely utilitarian and mercantile issues. Such as, for example, participation in the Turkish Turkish-Ukrainian business forum, at which the newly-minted president poured breathtaking promises: put all Ukrainian land up for sale, open a casino in the country, and even cover all the "unplanned" 5G. Well, with what he will cover it there, time will tell, but so far there are no lines of Turkish businessmen eager to invest in more than dubious Ukrainian projects. His pompous statement: “I personally will guarantee that your work in Ukraine will be as comfortable as possible,” the flurry of applause did not break. They didn’t start to laugh, and that’s good. Even more offensive for Zelensky was Erdogan's frown, cast by him half-heartedly in response to his proposal "to think about investing $ 10 billion in Ukraine." Obviously, the Turkish leader, having now with his own the economy problems, they say, above the roof, took what was said as a joke. And this joke did not appeal to him at all ... Zelensky, however, at the press conferences accompanying the visit, was shedding nightingale about the free trade agreement that Kiev and Ankara would “sign from day to day”, after which the Turkish money would flow into the “up-and-down” by the river. One way or another, but it seemed like a completely idle chatter for the current Ukrainian leader. The 120 minutes of tense conversation between the presidents, held behind tightly closed doors, were clearly not devoted to economics.
What then? Without a doubt, the conversation was conducted on political topics, however, what specifically could be its subject? The vast majority of analysts are inclined to one version - Russia. But further opinions differ ... A certain number of experts believe that Zelensky, who flew to Ankara after, frankly, not having a pleasant telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, was trying to find in the person of Erdogan a mediator to establish relations with Moscow. Being extremely “squeezed” in their own abilities, experiencing constant pressure from both the “party of war”, which has not gone anywhere in Kiev, and nationalist circles, for whom any warming in relations with Russia is unacceptable in principle, the Ukrainian president is trying to find some hidden channels of communication with the Kremlin. The leader of Turkey, who is now moving towards maximum rapprochement with him, apparently sees him here as an optimal candidate. The version, of course, has the right to exist. Nevertheless, some information regarding the content of secret negotiations, which nevertheless leaked out, makes it unlikely. There is information that Zelensky, in the process of such, made every effort to literally "drag" Turkey to the Donbass. It was not only about joining Ankara to the "restoration" of this region, but, according to some reports, even about introducing the Turkish military contingent there as "peacekeepers" under the UN mandate. Erdogan, it seems, refused, but promised to "think" ...
Then it's time to talk about those moments that cause the most serious concern. For example, the fact that Kiev and Ankara are continuing to force the militarytechnical cooperation. So, immediately upon Zelensky’s return home, the Ukrainian state concern “Ukroboronprom” made a statement on the creation of a joint venture with the Turkish Baykar Defense “to create high-precision weapons and aerospace technologies.” There you go! More recently, Ukraine bought Bayraktar TB2 drone drone from Turkey, and now it’s planning to create a “miracle UAV” with it, which, according to representatives of the military-industrial complex, will have an unbelievable range. And the armament will be able to carry “more than ordinary attack aircraft”! Whether the Ukrainian-Turkish consortium is capable of such feats is the third thing. The question is different. Interesting, right, gentlemen, we get a “movie”: with one hand Ankara buys S-400 from Russia on very favorable terms for itself, and, most importantly, claims to participate in the production of such, having gained access to appropriate technologies. The other one - not only sells “non-fallow” strike drones, but also intends to “combine the power of defense complexes” with it - in any case, that’s what they say in Kiev. It seems to me alone that something is hard wrong here ?! Or in Moscow, unlike Washington, which reacted very sharply to a mirror-like situation, will the Turkish side tolerate such a “feint”?
There is another nuance - even more unpleasant. Incidentally, he explains Erdogan’s words about Crimea ... And here we again need to return to the moment of negotiations between the two presidents. What Zelensky could try to achieve from Erdogan, we have already discussed in general terms. But the question is: what could he offer him? With a politician, who is a typical representative of the East, any conversation without this or that bargaining is simply inappropriate. It makes no sense. But what can today through the Russophobic, mired in practically insoluble economic and political problems Ukraine, interest the Turkish leader? Yes, Crimea - and only them! Of course, Erdogan does not see the Russian peninsula. But he does not consider him Ukrainian either. Crimea for him, as for any of his predecessors as the head of state, is seen as Turkish, and only Turkish! Tatar, under the sheer protectorate of Ankara - at least. Do not forget that it is the Crimean Tatars that are the third largest ethnic group in this country - after, in fact, the Turks and Kurds. 8% of the population, according to available data. As a matter of fact, the whole trip of Zelensky was most likely an attempt to play the “Tatar card” in Turkey. It was not without reason that he was accompanied in it by the leaders of the Mejlis banned in Russia - Chubarov and Dzhemilev. And Zelensky personally took part in the opening of a new office of the Crimean Tatar community in Ankara, too, personally.
Russian politicians who reacted very sharply to Recep Erdogan’s words about Crimea were right a thousand times. But for some reason they “didn’t notice” something else: the agreement reached in Ankara on the full assistance of Kiev to enter the peninsula of the maximum number of Crimean Tatars living today outside it. Do you think that among those will be entirely those who want to pay tribute to nostalgia, "fall to their native land" and visit the graves of their ancestors? Something doesn’t seem so to me ... All these “undercover games” cause extremely bad forebodings. It is very similar to the fact that Ankara, which began behind Moscow to “decide the fate” of the Russian Crimea and create joint military-technical projects of a cosmic scale with Kiev, is in dire need of another “admonition”. To facilitate the process of final selection of strategic partners and allies - at least ...
The economy is just a smokescreen
According to the official version, the main objectives of Zelensky’s visit to Ankara were purely utilitarian and mercantile issues. Such as, for example, participation in the Turkish Turkish-Ukrainian business forum, at which the newly-minted president poured breathtaking promises: put all Ukrainian land up for sale, open a casino in the country, and even cover all the "unplanned" 5G. Well, with what he will cover it there, time will tell, but so far there are no lines of Turkish businessmen eager to invest in more than dubious Ukrainian projects. His pompous statement: “I personally will guarantee that your work in Ukraine will be as comfortable as possible,” the flurry of applause did not break. They didn’t start to laugh, and that’s good. Even more offensive for Zelensky was Erdogan's frown, cast by him half-heartedly in response to his proposal "to think about investing $ 10 billion in Ukraine." Obviously, the Turkish leader, having now with his own the economy problems, they say, above the roof, took what was said as a joke. And this joke did not appeal to him at all ... Zelensky, however, at the press conferences accompanying the visit, was shedding nightingale about the free trade agreement that Kiev and Ankara would “sign from day to day”, after which the Turkish money would flow into the “up-and-down” by the river. One way or another, but it seemed like a completely idle chatter for the current Ukrainian leader. The 120 minutes of tense conversation between the presidents, held behind tightly closed doors, were clearly not devoted to economics.
What then? Without a doubt, the conversation was conducted on political topics, however, what specifically could be its subject? The vast majority of analysts are inclined to one version - Russia. But further opinions differ ... A certain number of experts believe that Zelensky, who flew to Ankara after, frankly, not having a pleasant telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, was trying to find in the person of Erdogan a mediator to establish relations with Moscow. Being extremely “squeezed” in their own abilities, experiencing constant pressure from both the “party of war”, which has not gone anywhere in Kiev, and nationalist circles, for whom any warming in relations with Russia is unacceptable in principle, the Ukrainian president is trying to find some hidden channels of communication with the Kremlin. The leader of Turkey, who is now moving towards maximum rapprochement with him, apparently sees him here as an optimal candidate. The version, of course, has the right to exist. Nevertheless, some information regarding the content of secret negotiations, which nevertheless leaked out, makes it unlikely. There is information that Zelensky, in the process of such, made every effort to literally "drag" Turkey to the Donbass. It was not only about joining Ankara to the "restoration" of this region, but, according to some reports, even about introducing the Turkish military contingent there as "peacekeepers" under the UN mandate. Erdogan, it seems, refused, but promised to "think" ...
To make a Tatar-style steak from Crimea?
Then it's time to talk about those moments that cause the most serious concern. For example, the fact that Kiev and Ankara are continuing to force the militarytechnical cooperation. So, immediately upon Zelensky’s return home, the Ukrainian state concern “Ukroboronprom” made a statement on the creation of a joint venture with the Turkish Baykar Defense “to create high-precision weapons and aerospace technologies.” There you go! More recently, Ukraine bought Bayraktar TB2 drone drone from Turkey, and now it’s planning to create a “miracle UAV” with it, which, according to representatives of the military-industrial complex, will have an unbelievable range. And the armament will be able to carry “more than ordinary attack aircraft”! Whether the Ukrainian-Turkish consortium is capable of such feats is the third thing. The question is different. Interesting, right, gentlemen, we get a “movie”: with one hand Ankara buys S-400 from Russia on very favorable terms for itself, and, most importantly, claims to participate in the production of such, having gained access to appropriate technologies. The other one - not only sells “non-fallow” strike drones, but also intends to “combine the power of defense complexes” with it - in any case, that’s what they say in Kiev. It seems to me alone that something is hard wrong here ?! Or in Moscow, unlike Washington, which reacted very sharply to a mirror-like situation, will the Turkish side tolerate such a “feint”?
There is another nuance - even more unpleasant. Incidentally, he explains Erdogan’s words about Crimea ... And here we again need to return to the moment of negotiations between the two presidents. What Zelensky could try to achieve from Erdogan, we have already discussed in general terms. But the question is: what could he offer him? With a politician, who is a typical representative of the East, any conversation without this or that bargaining is simply inappropriate. It makes no sense. But what can today through the Russophobic, mired in practically insoluble economic and political problems Ukraine, interest the Turkish leader? Yes, Crimea - and only them! Of course, Erdogan does not see the Russian peninsula. But he does not consider him Ukrainian either. Crimea for him, as for any of his predecessors as the head of state, is seen as Turkish, and only Turkish! Tatar, under the sheer protectorate of Ankara - at least. Do not forget that it is the Crimean Tatars that are the third largest ethnic group in this country - after, in fact, the Turks and Kurds. 8% of the population, according to available data. As a matter of fact, the whole trip of Zelensky was most likely an attempt to play the “Tatar card” in Turkey. It was not without reason that he was accompanied in it by the leaders of the Mejlis banned in Russia - Chubarov and Dzhemilev. And Zelensky personally took part in the opening of a new office of the Crimean Tatar community in Ankara, too, personally.
Russian politicians who reacted very sharply to Recep Erdogan’s words about Crimea were right a thousand times. But for some reason they “didn’t notice” something else: the agreement reached in Ankara on the full assistance of Kiev to enter the peninsula of the maximum number of Crimean Tatars living today outside it. Do you think that among those will be entirely those who want to pay tribute to nostalgia, "fall to their native land" and visit the graves of their ancestors? Something doesn’t seem so to me ... All these “undercover games” cause extremely bad forebodings. It is very similar to the fact that Ankara, which began behind Moscow to “decide the fate” of the Russian Crimea and create joint military-technical projects of a cosmic scale with Kiev, is in dire need of another “admonition”. To facilitate the process of final selection of strategic partners and allies - at least ...
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