Russia’s outgoing ambassador to Türkiye claimed NATO states are attempting to form a new structure to exercise military and political control over Ukraine while offering Kyiv “tempting promises.”

Alexei Yerkhov, who has served as Moscow’s envoy in Ankara since 2017, made the remarks in an interview with Hurriyet journalist Hande Firat as he wrapped up his diplomatic mission in Türkiye.

“I believe that the eventual ‘security guarantees’ worked out by the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ really have quite little to do with collective defense under NATO,” Yerkhov said. “Rather, the opposite is true. This is an attempt by several states, even if they are members of NATO, to form a fundamentally new structure outside its formal framework and mechanisms, which will allow them to ensure their dense military presence in the Eastern European theater and strengthen military-political control over Ukraine.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) looks at France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) as he speaks during a press conference following the Coalition of the Willing Summit, at the Elysee presidential Palace, in Paris, on September 4, 2025. (AFP Photo)

EU’s ‘security guarantees’

Yerkhov’s comments referred to the Paris summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in early September, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in person and several leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, via video link. The United States was represented by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who also met separately with Zelenskyy.

“We have today 26 countries who have formally committed—some others have not yet taken a position—to deploy as a ‘reassurance force’ troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea, or in the air,” Macron said at the summit, standing alongside Zelenskyy.

Yerkhov warned that such moves raised fundamental questions about how these actions to “restrain Russia” would fit within the provisions of the Washington Treaty and other NATO governing documents.

Yerkhov also recalled the 2022 negotiations in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine, where the idea of guarantor countries, including Türkiye, was seriously considered. “Very interesting opportunities emerged,” he said. “Then the Anglo-Saxons ruined everything, but perhaps the idea is not dead yet?”

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Farewell to Türkiye

Yerkhov, who previously served six years as consul general in Istanbul and eight years as ambassador in Ankara, described his 14-year mission in Türkiye as “extremely interesting and very, very difficult,” citing shared experiences from the pandemic to the earthquakes.

He recalled the assassination of his predecessor, Ambassador Andrey Karlov, in 2016, saying the Turkish people’s condolences and support “deeply shook me” but were also “very touching from a human perspective.”

“I am leaving with sadness, leaving behind not only 14 years of my life but also a piece of my heart,” Yerkhov said. “So long, Türkiye.”

September 14, 2025 11:08 AM GMT+03:00