What was the purpose of Zelensky's visit to Turkey?

We have been watching and observing together that the war between the RF and Ukraine, which has been going on for more than two years, has stagnated, stalled and remained at a certain point. No matter how it is expressed, RF has taken approximately one fifth of Ukraine's "Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts", which they call "liberated regions", from Ukraine and annexed them to its territory, just like the "Annexation of Crimea in 2014". This is, of course, the Russian way of annexing, expanding or occupying territories that are abstracted from the concept of "liberated territories" or "homeland". In other words, a typical "Russian irredentism", i.e. "liberationism". Sir, all nations of the world wage armed and unarmed wars in order to unite with themselves their compatriots who remain under the sovereignty of foreign states. This is not expansionism, but irredentism. (1) 

I say this because the RF clings to this mysterious word every time, in every action. You may also call it a kind of obsession, a symptom, or the idea that led to the invasion of South Ossetia in the Caucasus, Abkhazia in Georgia and Crimea. This is a nomenclature depending on the paradigm you look at. In a way, this is the Russian, not the Arabic, version of military intervention.  Since the Russians recognise the Ukrainian territory as their own, they have called their military intervention "special operations". They entered the Donbass as a called-up force of "Novo Rossiya" (New Russia), which is why we know that they had the letter "Z" painted on all their vehicles and equipment. 

Let us now recall together where we have been. 36 hours after Russian President Putin's TV speech on 22 February 2022, which intimidated Ukraine and at the same time increased the longing for Tsarist Russia, Russian troops entered Ukraine. Despite US President Biden's warning the day before the invasion began, there was almost no reflex of resistance in Ukraine. "The Russians are entering Ukraine tomorrow", Biden had openly warned. Nobody paid any attention, not even Zelensky. Ukrainians did not believe, or rather did not want to believe. It never even crossed their minds that the Russians would commit such an act of madness.  What has not happened in these 25 months of fire, blood and tears. 

Indeed, the bloodiest massacre took place in Bahmut, and Avdeyevka, which entered the Donbass region like a dagger, was captured by the Russians.  Ukraine withdrew from the strategic city of Avdeyevka in the Donetsk region in mid-February 2024 on the grounds that there was not enough ammunition. The flagship of the RF Black Sea Fleet was sunk by the Moscow "Neptune Anti-Ship Cruise Missile". Later in the war, it was also seen that Russia was unable to prevent the damage caused by Ukraine to the Kerch Bridge and Sevastopol port facilities in the Black Sea. In the conflicts that turned into a war of attrition, unmanned aerial and naval vehicles, missiles and anti-missile weapons were successful, while aircraft and armoured vehicles failed. The elimination of Prigojin, the owner of the private security company Wagner, and Putin's opponent Navalny, who rebelled against the RF Ministry of Defence's initiatives, added a new one to the Russian speculations.  At this point, Russia, which has not been able to fully capture the Donbass region, but which has settled on 18 per cent of Ukraine's land, has been remembered with its aggressive attitude. 

Putin, who has kept the nuclear threat on the agenda since the beginning of the Ukrainian war, is closer than ever to pressing the button at the end of 2022. "The New York Times" brought to the agenda that Ankara played a major role in preventing a nuclear war, and wrote that the disaster was averted as a result of the Russian-American intelligence summit held in Ankara. The massing of Russian nuclear submarines as a means of disposal has brought the importance of a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (AUKUS) back to the agenda on 15 September 2021. As is well known, Europe's largest six-reactor "Zaporizhia nuclear power plant" has been under Russian occupation for two years. It is worth remembering that the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been under the control of the Russian army, meets 20 per cent of the electricity production in Ukraine. (2) Ukraine used to meet about half of its electricity consumption with 15 active nuclear reactors operating in 4 facilities in the country. 

Yes, dear readers, first of all, the RF-Ukraine war has been an occasion for the humanitarian tragedy to be experienced at an extreme level. It is rumoured that the military losses of the parties were 150 thousand each, while Ukraine's losses were 70 thousand and Russia's were over 100 thousand. 6 million Ukrainians travelled abroad and embarked on a new life, a struggle for existence. It is estimated that the cost of the war, especially for the reconstruction of Ukraine, will reach 500 billion dollars. In other words, a complete destruction... One cannot help asking whether this was what was intended to be done. What can one say about this war, which caused high casualties, which can also be interpreted as a bitter casualty of defiance or a show of determination? But for what sake, or at the cost of catastrophic losses, what has been achieved so far? 

Zelensky has embarked on many searches for a path to peace towards 2024. While pursuing his searches, he even praised Trump and brought up a sense of regret that if Trump had been president, there would not even have been a war. Zelenskiy entered into a diplomatic race to present his plan to leaders including Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assumed the presidency of the G20, and finally realised that Turkey was the right address for peace. During Zelensky's visit to Washington on 22 December 2023, Biden publicly stated that only he and Zelensky "shared the same vision" for peace and that the US was committed to ensuring Ukraine's ability to defend itself. Biden almost openly admitted that he was using the whole of Ukraine as a guinea pig to wear down the RF. In other words, in a sense, he has said "while making a statement".  

While expressing his actions as a praise and admiration, he also revealed the great sin he committed. While the support of Western countries to Ukraine during the war of attrition was to continue, the Israel-HAMAS clashes that erupted on 7 October 2023 relieved Russia considerably. The sanctions imposed on Russia have accelerated the increased use of currencies other than the US dollar in international trade. Behind closed doors, it was seen that Kiev could be surrounded in the shape of a half-moon after the RF's Transnistria opening and Odessa could also be lost. The perception that Ukraine may be deprived of opening to the sea in this way, and that Ukraine may be limited to Kiev and a few cities around it, has led the Zelenskiy administration to worry and anxiety. For this reason, these initiatives of the RF have, in a sense, reinforced and consolidated Zelensky's search for peace negotiations in Istanbul.  

After long searches, Zelensky's visit to Turkey on 8 March 2024 was a correct approach to describe Istanbul as a place for peace talks. During the talks, the course of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the latest situation in the contacts regarding the continuation of the Grain Corridor Agreement, and the search for lasting peace in the region were discussed in detail.  Although United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the chances of peace talks to take place in the near future are low, it has been seen that the grain corridor agreement with Russia could be an important converging factor for lasting peace. Following the meeting with President Erdoğan, President Zelensky's 10-point plan was updated as follows:

1. NUCLEAR SECURITY

Assistance to repair and restart the damaged energy infrastructure of Zaporizhia, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian occupation, to contribute to Ukraine's electricity production, and to restore the security around it to a healthy and secure state. 

2. GRAIN CORRIDOR AND SECURITY

A joint initiative with the RF to protect and secure Ukraine's grain exports to the world's poorest countries.

3. RELEASE OF PRISONERS AND EXILES 

Release all detainees and deportees, including prisoners of war and Ukrainian children deported to Russia.

4. PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Protect and restore the environment, with a focus on ecological destruction, demining and restoration of water treatment facilities.

5. PREVENTING ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT

The rebuilding of the security architecture in the Euro-Atlantic area in a non-confrontational manner, including guarantees for Ukraine.

6. CONFIRMATION OF THE END OF THE WAR

The creation of a binding document signed by the parties concerned as a confirmation of the end of the war.

As a result, Russia, which has distanced itself from the agenda with the Israeli problem, has been expecting an acceptable outcome in Ukraine if the "old friend" Trump wins the presidential elections in the USA. As much as Putin is the favourite in the presidential elections in Russia, it is considered that Biden may be a goner in the US Presidential elections on 5 November 2024. 

After all these explanations, let's sit up straight and say, giving Caesar's right to Caesar, that the Republic of Turkey, which produces independent policies centred in Ankara, was able to show the skill of "I am the boss of Montreux!" in the RF-Ukraine War.  Just like the famous Isparta accent of the late President Süleyman Demirel, who said "GAP'ı gaptırmam", Turkey did not compromise on Montreux and the importance of the "Turkish Straits" jargon was once again reminded to its enemies. All three countries, especially the USA, RF and Ukraine, forced Turkey to compromise on this issue, but Turkey did not compromise on Montreux and did not hesitate to do whatever was necessary, dear readers. Therefore, the Republic of Turkey is undoubtedly the secret key to peace. 

Footnotes

(1) It is a concept derived from the Latin "terra irredentia", which means "unredeemed land" in English. 

(2) Emre Gürkan Abay, "Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant has 20 per cent share in Ukraine's electricity generation", Anadolu Agency, 04.03.2022; https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/zaporijya-nukleer-santrali-ukraynanin-elektrik-uretiminde-yuzde-20-paya-sahip/2523510/Erişim Date 10.03.2024/