Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described Washington's approval for Ukraine to use American missiles against military targets inside Russia as a 'big mistake' that could push the world to the brink of a 'major war'. Erdogan made these remarks in a statement published on Wednesday, following his attendance at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The decision to allow Kyiv to employ powerful long-range ATACMS missiles marks a significant shift in US policy, eliciting a strong reaction from Moscow. In response, Russia expanded the conditions under which it can use nuclear weapons, serving as a clear warning to Ukraine and the West.
Erdogan cautioned that Biden's move would not only escalate the conflict but also provoke a stronger reaction from Russia, potentially leading the region and the world to the edge of a major new war. He further argued that the US decision could be seen as an attempt to prolong the war and even spread it.
Highlighting Russia's recent decree, Erdogan noted that Moscow could now respond with nuclear force in the event of a massive air attack, even if conducted with conventional weapons. He urged caution, stating that any misstep based on this 'big mistake' could ignite a volatile situation.
Turkey, maintaining friendly relations with both Ukraine and Russia, has provided drones to Ukraine but has refrained from imposing Western sanctions on Moscow. Erdogan also called for NATO to review Russia's revised nuclear policy, which has been widely condemned by Washington, Brussels, and London as 'irresponsible'.
Putin's use of nuclear rhetoric has intensified throughout the conflict, particularly since last year, with Russia withdrawing from a nuclear test ban treaty and a crucial arms reduction agreement with the US.
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