Erdogan Criticizes U.S. Arms Supply to Ukraine, says it is “Big mistake” that would only “fuel the war”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his stance that the Ukraine-Russia conflict cannot be resolved through increased militarization but through diplomacy, goodwill, and peace efforts.

Erdogan expressed strong criticism of U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent approval to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel land mines and the decision to permit Kyiv’s use of U.S.-made long-range missiles to strike Russian territory as he returned from the G20 Summit in Brazil,

He described these moves as a “big mistake” that would only “fuel the war.”

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The Turkish president’s comments come amid heightened tensions following Russia’s adjustments to its nuclear doctrine and reports of Ukraine employing the U.S.-made missiles for attacks inside Russia.

China also weighed in, urging all parties to de-escalate. A spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry called for “calm and restraint,” emphasizing the importance of averting further conflict.

Recall that Ukraine fired US-supplied longer-range missiles at Russian territory for the first time.

The attack was confirmed by the Russian government, a day after Washington gave its permission for such attacks.

US officials also confirmed the use of the Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms).

While reacting to the development, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, accused Washington of trying to escalate the conflict.

“That Atacms was used repeatedly overnight against Bryansk Region is of course a signal that they [the US] want escalation,” he said.

“And without the Americans, use of these high-tech missiles, as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has said many times, is impossible.”
He said Russia would “proceed from the understanding” that the missiles were operated by “American military experts”.

“We will be taking this as a renewed face of the Western war against Russia and we will react accordingly,” he told a press conference at the G20 in Rio de Janeiro.