Kuleba: Turkey's participation in Crimea Platform dealt severe blow to Putin

By declaring non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea and participating in the Crimea Platform, Turkey dealt a severe blow to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba expressed such an opinion in an interview with TSN, Ukrinform reports.

According to the minister, restrictions on the export of Turkish tomatoes to Russia after the participation of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in the Crimean Platform, as well as the statement by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea, dealt a severe blow to the Russian leader personally.

"The Crimea Platform deals a very strong blow to president Putin personally. Therefore, we understood his emotional reaction and we are satisfied with it. This means that we are doing the right and good deed," Kuleba said.

In addition, the minister noted that Çavuşoğlu had repeatedly stated, both publicly and privately, that Turkey would remain one of the most active members of the Crimea Platform and was ready, together with Ukraine, to persuade other countries to join the Crimea Platform Declaration.

According to Kuleba, currently there are no off-limits subjects between Turkey and Ukraine and, therefore, the issue of Russia was also discussed at the talks in Ukraine.

"We have no off-limits subjects with Turkey. We have very trust-based relations. So, of course, we talked about Russia. And I was satisfied with what I heard from my Turkish colleague," Kuleba summed up.

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