Turkey must keep diplomatic balance for peace talks -Erdogan adviser

Ibrahim Kalin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman and chief foreign policy adviser, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Istanbul, Turkey May 14, 2022. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey must maintain a delicate diplomatic balance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine so that it remains able to help facilitate an eventual negotiated end to the war, President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said in an interview.

Ibrahim Kalin, who is also Erdogan's chief foreign policy adviser, said that while Ankara has criticised Moscow's Feb. 24 invasion and actions on the battlefield it would do no good to take a more punitive stance against Russia.