Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday stated the West was being provocative towards Russia.

In a press convention alongside his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade, Erdoğan stated: “I can clearly say that I don’t discover the perspective of the West [toward Russia] proper,” including that there was a “coverage primarily based on provocation.”

Erdoğan additionally stated he doesn’t assume the battle in Ukraine will finish “anytime quickly,” and urged international locations to not “underestimate Russia.” His remarks got here throughout a go to to Serbia, as a part of a three-nation Balkan tour this week.

Up to now, Ankara has tried to current itself as a impartial get together within the Russia-Ukraine battle. It has hosted talks with officers from Moscow and Kyiv on the highest degree and mediated a grain deal alongside the U.N. to guarantee protected meals exports out of blockaded ports from Ukraine.

Turkey has nonetheless maintained robust ties with Russia because the invasion. Ankara has elevated its commerce with Russia, Turkish banks have adopted a Russian funds system and Turkey has reportedly doubled its imports of Russian oil this 12 months.