By Erkin Feyyaz Eşli
Türkiye is once again taking over Russian-Ukrainian narrative by considering deployment of its combatants to Ukraine as a peacekeeping force. According to sources close to Türkiye’s Defense Ministry the initiative will be discussed by all interested parties if such a step is deemed necessary to establish regional stability and peace.
As of late, Recep Erdogan has shown his prowess in handling peacekeepeng talks and drawing diplomatic connections between rivalring parties. By direct Turkish supervision Somalia and Ethiopia settled the dispute over Addis Ababa’s plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland. Türkiye then turned its mediation efforts to Sudan’s civil war by offering to provide a platform for peace talks on Sudan.
Türkiye has consistently advocated for peaceful initiatives to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, positioning itself as a proactive mediator in the crisis. However, one of the persistent challenges to resolving the conflict lies in Ukraine’s often erratic and counterproductive diplomatic approach, which continues to hinder progress toward a sustainable solution.
The Trump-Zelensky debacle in Washington on February 28 stands as a glaring example of Ukraine’s faltering diplomatic strategy. From the moment the talks started, President Zelensky appeared to approach the discussions as though he was negotiating terms of surrender to Russia, rather than securing a critical mineral agreement with the United States. His efforts to advocate for Ukraine’s security guarantees were overshadowed by a misjudged confrontation with Donald Trump and JD Vance. While Zelensky later seemed to recognize the misstep in subsequent U.S. media appearances, the episode underscored a missed opportunity to navigate the delicate diplomatic landscape effectively.
Another striking illustration of Ukraine’s diplomatic missteps is the appointment of Andriy Melnyk as Kyiv’s new envoy to the United Nations. Melnyk, a figure no stranger to controversy, gained notoriety for his inflammatory remarks, including referring to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as an “offended liver sausage” and bluntly telling Elon Musk to “f**k off.” His admiration for Stepan Bandera, a Ukrainian nationalist leader who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II, has further fueled tensions. In a German podcast, Melnyk controversially claimed that Bandera had no responsibility in the mass killings of Jews and Poles, likening him to Robin Hood—a figure he argued is celebrated despite operating outside the law of his time. These comments sparked widespread outrage in Germany, Poland, and Israel, prompting Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry to issue a clarification, distancing itself from Melnyk’s statements and emphasizing that they reflected his personal views, not the official position of Kyiv. This episode highlights the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces in balancing its diplomatic messaging with the sensitivities of its international partners.
These developments underscore the importance of Türkiye maintaining a measured and cautious approach in its dealings with Ukraine. The erratic behavior and controversial actions of Ukrainian diplomats’ risk complicating Ankara’s delicate balancing act, potentially straining its relations with Moscow and Washington. This is particularly critical given the growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv, which could further destabilize the geopolitical landscape. By adopting a restrained and pragmatic stance, Türkiye can safeguard its strategic interests and avoid being drawn into the fallout of Ukraine’s diplomatic missteps.