ALM Special

Ukraine war at year 1: Turkey's balancing act succeeds, but game far from over

Despite his diplomatic gains over the past year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's cautious dance between Ukraine and Russia can't be declared a success quite yet.
DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images
(L to R) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shake hands at the end of their press conference following talks in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Aug. 18, 2022. - DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images
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Fehim Tastekin
@fehimtastekin
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Drawing on Turkey’s geo-strategic standing, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has played both sides in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, earning himself the role of a mediator and expanding his maneuvering room to make other gains. 

But as the war enters its second year on Friday, Erdogan’s balance sheet is cloudy as he looks to Russian favors to boost his reelection chances at home, while doubts mount over his commitment to NATO in the West. 

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