Donbass residents welcome Turkey’s mediation offer

DONBASS: The residents of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine expressed support for Turkey’s offer to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow, ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Ukraine.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), a resident of Kramatorsk – an industrial city that fell to pro-Russian separatists in 2014 before the Ukrainian army regained control – underlined that ties between Ankara and Kyiv are “good,” and that Turkey’s mediation would be “be better than (that of) the United States, which wants to interfere here (in Ukraine’s affairs).”

“The thing that Turkey provided Ukraine, the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and the joint production that seems to be underway, is very good and very wonderful,” said a pensioner in the city, who did not want to be named.

“The way President Erdoğan speaks about Ukraine is like a father’s care, he’s ready to help with all means,” he added.

He also stressed that in general, only “positive thoughts are evoked by Turkey’s role” in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Another resident of the city, located in the region of Donetsk in Donbass, said she hopes Ukraine’s friendship with Turkey will continue and that she believes that Ankara will help her country. -Agencies