Iuliia Mendel, former Press Secretary of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, made statements about the tension between Russia and Ukraine. In her speech, Mendel mentioned how the events between the two countries started and how the process continues. Stating that Russia started its military operations in Ukraine in 2014, Mendel noted that this year is the 8th anniversary of the occupation of the Crimean peninsula and the Donbass region. Mendel said, “Since 2014, Ukraine has done a lot for the establishment of peace.”
Former Press Secretary Mendel also touched upon the escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine in recent days, and underlined that “Ukraine is a country that wants peace.” Mendel said, “People started to be evacuated in Donbass. Soldiers and civilians lost their lives. Russia claimed that Ukraine bombed Donbass and Luhansk. They are trying to present Ukraine as an administration that attacking Donbass. Ukraine will not attack a place that already belongs to itself. Ukraine is a country that wants peace. We have never attacked anyone.”
During her speech, Mendel also expressed that they are grateful for the support given by Turkey to Ukraine. “We are also grateful to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. They are one of our very important partners and also a NATO member. We are grateful to Turkey for Bayraktar support. This was very important for us in the field of self-defense. Turkey is one of the countries that with us when Russia tried to attack,” Mendel said.
Bekir Keskin