Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy was this week's guest of the Friday Programs organized by the Konya Branch of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD). Prof. Dr. Aksoy stated that Turkey took an active role in terms of both Russia and Ukraine and said, "In terms of Turkish foreign policy, the leadership position in this process, the ability to maneuver quickly, to make quick decisions, our President's relations with Putin and his efforts to bring Ukraine and Russia together is a great success."

Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy evaluated the historical process, continuity and change of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the points of the crisis in the Western alliance, the importance of Ukraine for Russia and Russia's perspective. Stating that the Russia-Ukraine crisis started with the 2010 elections, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said that this approach was not unforeseeable for those who follow Russian politics. Stating that Ukraine is a physically and ideologically indispensable place for Russia, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, "When Putin launched the military operation, he said that he did not accept the Soviet Union. There is an ideological background for him to say this. Why doesn't he accept the Soviet Union? Because Putin is a devout Orthodox. He does not accept the Soviet Union because it destroyed Orthodoxy. And the reason he is taking its borders is because he sees these territories as the Russian Empire. What is the main factor behind this? The importance of Ukraine is that it is part of this ideological approach."

"THERE IS A LEADER CRISIS IN THE WEST"

Prof. Dr. Aksoy stated that states gave more weight to their domestic policies with the pandemic and increased their geopolitical maneuverability during this period. Explaining that the West is experiencing a leader crisis, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, "We have a West experiencing a leader crisis. Countries that are leaders come to the fore. At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, we can see how our President stands out with his leadership and vision. In countries with fragile politics like the West, we can observe that various weaknesses come to the fore at many points, from decision-making processes to many points. In fact, Russia and Putin have clearly read the West's leader crisis and are clearly evaluating it. In response to this, we observe that Russia has continued to increase its politics and strategy for the last ten years. Today, children's hospitals are being bombed in Ukraine. But the West is silent. It is as if this war does not exist, their attitude is deplorable."

"TURKEY'S FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY IS ADMIRED"

Evaluating Turkey's foreign policy position in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said: "Turkey is actively acting as an intermediary for both Russia and Ukraine. In terms of Turkish foreign policy, the leadership position in this process, the ability to maneuver quickly, to take quick decisions, our President's relations with Putin and his efforts to bring Ukraine and Russia together is a great success. In fact, while the possibility of NATO's intervention was discussed at first, today, when NATO did not intervene, it shows us that Turkey has come to the forefront more diplomatically in order to reduce the losses of the Ukrainian people a little more. In this sense, Turkey's foreign policy strategy to keep the international public opinion alive and united is a strategy that is followed with appreciation. We can say that Turkish foreign policy has entered into a more active orientation than ever before."

MUSIAD Konya Branch Chairman Hilmi Kağnıcı, MUSIAD Konya Branch board members and MUSIAD members attended the program.