IMPLICATIONS OF THE UKRAINE WAR FOR TÜRKIYE–RUSSIA RELATIONS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Türkiye’s geopolitical location places it at the crossroads of a region rich in both opportunities and challenges. Even before the Turkish economy had fully recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict created additional economic pressures. The foundations of Türkiye–Russia relations rest on a long-standing partnership that has gradually expanded across various domains. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, diplomatic ties between the two countries deepened further. However, the Russia–Ukraine conflict—beginning in 2014 and intensifying sharply in 2022—has shaped Ankara–Moscow relations within a highly complex set of dynamics. This study, employing qualitative research methods, investigates the impact of the war in Ukraine on the enduring relationship between Moscow and Ankara. The first section examines Türkiye’s historical relations with Ukraine, while the second provides a detailed analysis of how the conflict has influenced Türkiye–Russia ties. The findings suggest that, although the war has occasionally strained relations, it has also, in certain respects, fostered enhanced communication and cooperation between the two states. By focusing specifically on the war’s impact on Ankara–Moscow relations—rather than on the broader repercussions for Türkiye, which dominate much of the Turkish-language literature—this research highlights a more narrowly defined and underexplored dimension of the issue.