Erdoğan welcomes Russian withdrawal from Ukraine's Kherson

Anadolu Agency

Russia's decision to pull its forces back from the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson was "positive and important," the president of Turkey said on Nov. 10.

"Russia's decision regarding Kherson is positive, an important decision," Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters in the capital Ankara before leaving for a summit of Turkic countries in Uzbekistan.

Vowing to maintain dialogue with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Erdoğan's comments came after Moscow ordered its troops on Wednesday to withdraw from Kherson to the east bank of the Dnieper River.

"I don't know whether there will be Russian participation in the G20 or not. We'll have the opportunity to meet face-to-face there (with Putin). Otherwise, we'll continue to maintain telephone diplomacy with Russia," Erdoğan said.

On efforts to normalize Turkey's ties with Armenia, Erdogan said the country's diasporas in France and the US were hindering the process.

"The diasporas are constantly working against it, both in France and in the US," he said, suggesting that Armenia could turn "the negative efforts of these diasporas into a positive direction."

"If the Armenian administration achieves this, of course, the steps they will take with Azerbaijan over both Lachin and Zangezur (corridors), will positively affect the steps we will take," added the Turkish leader. "We strive to make friends, not enemies."

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