Faced with a tough balancing act, Turkey has been sending mixed signals on its position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has angered Moscow by developing military ties with Kyiv, has called for NATO action on the one hand, while stressing the importance of preserving ties with Russia on the other.

Erdogan’s unusual relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense systems have shaken NATO allies’ confidence in Ankara in recent years. In the crisis over Ukraine, Erdogan said from the outset his stance would be in line with NATO decisions, signaling in a sense that he would not be obstructive. Some of his more recent messages, however, have sounded as if he is seeking NATO’s direct involvement in the fray. 

“NATO should determine its position and do whatever it will do. As you know, we have not seen any serious [move] like troop deployment to Ukraine thus far. Everyone is just talking, but there is no action,” Erdogan told journalists Feb. 23 on a flight back from Africa, where the escalation of the crisis caught him. At the same time, he stressed that Turkey “cannot give up” on either Russia or Ukraine due to “the advanced level” of ties with both countries. His remarks suggest he wishes to weather the crisis without sacrificing Ukraine to Russia or Russia to Ukraine, yet his promise of solidarity to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with whom he has cultivated very close ties, is pushing him to take swipes at NATO for failing to do more.

In a heightened critical tone ahead of the NATO summit Feb. 25, Erdogan said, “This should not turn into an ordinary flurry of condemnations. [NATO] should take a more decisive step. We’ll see the positions of all leaders and declare our own. The pro-Western mindsets have failed to display a serious, resolute attitude thus far. They are all busy preaching Ukraine. No action has been taken. I hope the NATO summit will produce a more resolute stance.”