Erdogan: Russia has the right to defend itself

reported by Mehr News Agency quoted by Tass, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said about the updated version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine that the country has every right to protect itself.

Erdogan said in a press conference after the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro: I think that Russia will definitely use weapons in response to the position adopted against this country. Konkan has published this statement (document). I imagine that the NATO authorities should take care of this issue.

He emphasized: Russia has the right and ability to protect and take measures to defend itself. And of course (Moscow) has been forced to adopt these measures. Just like us, NATO countries, we have to protect ourselves and take measures to protect ourselves.

The President of Turkey pointed out that both Russia and Ukraine are Ankara’s neighbors and added: At this point, we must protect our bilateral relations with them. I hope that we will reach a definitive ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia as soon as possible and establish the peace that the world is eagerly waiting for.

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, said that Russia’s new nuclear doctrine stipulates that Moscow can use nuclear weapons if Ukraine attacks Russia using non-nuclear weapons in the West. Earlier, Peskov emphasized that the West’s decision to lift Ukraine’s missile restriction “changes the nature of tensions and brings it into a new phase.”