<p class="title">President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Wednesday that Turkey would not recognise any move against Ukraine's sovereignty, and warned against a military conflict.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Erdogan told Putin that Turkey would "not recognise any step against Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," his office said, adding that this was Ankara's "principled approach".</p>.<p class="bodytext">President Vladimir Putin has defied an avalanche of international sanctions and put his forces on stand-by to occupy and defend two rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia recognised the regions as independent this week, a serious escalation of tensions in the ongoing crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">NATO member Turkey, which has friendly ties to Russia and Ukraine, has sought to position itself as a mediator.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the phone call with Putin, Erdogan said "a military conflict would not bring benefit to anyone", and that Ankara prioritised diplomacy and dialogue, the presidency said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Turkey is ready to do its part to reduce tensions and maintain peace," he told Putin.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-believes-in-rules-based-order-meenakshi-lekhi-on-ukraine-crisis-1084455.html" target="_blank">India believes in rules-based order: Meenakshi Lekhi on Ukraine crisis</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">The Kremlin said Putin told Erdogan about the "necessity" of his decision to recognise east Ukraine's rebel Donetsk and Lugansk republics -- a move that opens the door to the presence of the Russian army there.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Putin said the decision was taken "in the conditions of the aggression of Ukrainian authorities in Donbas and their categorical refusal" to abide to a peace agreement, the Kremlin said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Erdogan cut short a trip to Africa amid the flurry of diplomacy over the crisis and returned Turkey late on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters on the plane home, Erdogan said Turkey did not want to choose between Russia and Ukraine, in comments published in Turkish media on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is not possible for us to give up on both," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have political and military relations with Russia. We also have political, military and economic ties with Ukraine," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We want this issue to be resolved without us having to choose between the two."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Erdogan has proposed a trilateral summit in Turkey with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Turkish leader told Zelensky in a phone call on Tuesday that "Putin's recognition of so-called republics" was unacceptable.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p class="title">President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Wednesday that Turkey would not recognise any move against Ukraine's sovereignty, and warned against a military conflict.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Erdogan told Putin that Turkey would "not recognise any step against Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," his office said, adding that this was Ankara's "principled approach".</p>.<p class="bodytext">President Vladimir Putin has defied an avalanche of international sanctions and put his forces on stand-by to occupy and defend two rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia recognised the regions as independent this week, a serious escalation of tensions in the ongoing crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">NATO member Turkey, which has friendly ties to Russia and Ukraine, has sought to position itself as a mediator.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the phone call with Putin, Erdogan said "a military conflict would not bring benefit to anyone", and that Ankara prioritised diplomacy and dialogue, the presidency said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Turkey is ready to do its part to reduce tensions and maintain peace," he told Putin.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-believes-in-rules-based-order-meenakshi-lekhi-on-ukraine-crisis-1084455.html" target="_blank">India believes in rules-based order: Meenakshi Lekhi on Ukraine crisis</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">The Kremlin said Putin told Erdogan about the "necessity" of his decision to recognise east Ukraine's rebel Donetsk and Lugansk republics -- a move that opens the door to the presence of the Russian army there.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Putin said the decision was taken "in the conditions of the aggression of Ukrainian authorities in Donbas and their categorical refusal" to abide to a peace agreement, the Kremlin said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Erdogan cut short a trip to Africa amid the flurry of diplomacy over the crisis and returned Turkey late on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters on the plane home, Erdogan said Turkey did not want to choose between Russia and Ukraine, in comments published in Turkish media on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is not possible for us to give up on both," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have political and military relations with Russia. We also have political, military and economic ties with Ukraine," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We want this issue to be resolved without us having to choose between the two."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Erdogan has proposed a trilateral summit in Turkey with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Turkish leader told Zelensky in a phone call on Tuesday that "Putin's recognition of so-called republics" was unacceptable.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>