Only the Russian and Ukrainian presidents can determine when the war in Ukraine will come to an end, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, APA reports citing the Anadolu Agency.
In an interview with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), an American public broadcaster, President Erdogan emphasized that he could not provide a timeline for the war's conclusion.
"It's impossible for me to give you a calendar about when this war will end or how long it will go," he said. "Only the leaders of both parties (Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky) will be able to tell you."
Asked about his discussions with Putin regarding the war's progress, President Erdogan noted that the conflict is expected to continue for "a long time."
"And for the war to end as soon as possible, we would like to be very hopeful. And Mr. Putin is actually on the side of ending this war as soon as possible," he said.
The president also said that Russia is as trustworthy as the West.
"I have no reason not to trust them. To the extent the West is reliable, Russia is equally reliable. For the last 50 years, we have been waiting at the doorstep of the EU. And at this moment in time, I trust Russia just as much as I trust the West," he said.
When asked about recent remarks he made on parting ways with the European Union if necessary, the president said that Türkiye attaches great importance to decisions made by the EU and will welcome any positive step forward.
"Türkiye has been lingering at the doorstep of the EU for the last five decades. And we were always self-sufficient. We never relied on contributions or support we received from the EU, so it's not even necessary for us," he added.
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