Humanitarian cease-fire in Ukraine should be "permanent and countrywide," the Turkish foreign minister said Saturday.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Turkey is monitoring the developments in Ukraine with concern.
"We want this unjust and unlawful attack to end as soon as possible. We continue to increase our efforts in this regard," he said.
Çavuşoğlu also pointed out Turkey's efforts for the safe evacuation of Turkish citizens in Ukraine, adding that they will continue the cooperation with Azerbaijan regarding the issue.
"We also work together to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine," he said.
Turkey has evacuated 11,496 citizens from Ukraine since Russia launched a war on its neighbor, the top diplomat said.
A further 273 Turkish people left Ukraine on Saturday, Çavuşoğlu said.
"Works for the safe evacuation of our citizens continue," he added.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar also stated on Sunday that the safety of Turkish citizens in Ukraine and their evacuation to Turkey as soon as possible due to Russia's attack is very important and said: "We are in favor of the declaration of a cease-fire as soon as possible so that these can be done."
At least 351 civilians have been killed and 707 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war on Feb. 24, according to United Nations figures.
More than 1.3 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, the latest data by the United Nations Refugee Agency showed.
Russia's war on Ukraine has led to international outrage, with the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and others implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow. The West is also supplying Kyiv with weapons and humanitarian aid.
Maintaining its neutral and balanced stance, Turkey continues its diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Ukraine conflict, urging restraint for all sides. While Ankara has opposed international sanctions aiming to isolate Moscow, it also closed the Bosporus and Dardanelles under a 1936 pact, allowing it to prevent some Russian vessels from crossing the Turkish Straits.
NATO ally Turkey borders Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good ties with both. Since the beginning of the conflict, Ankara has offered to mediate between the two sides and offered to host peace talks, also underlining its support to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. While recently calling Russia’s invasion an unacceptable violation of international law, Turkey has carefully formulated its rhetoric not to offend Moscow, with which it has close energy, defense and tourism ties.
Ankara has said it wants to bring together foreign ministers from Ukraine and Russia for talks at a diplomacy forum next week in southern Turkey. Both Ukraine and Russia have voiced openness to such talks.
