One of the key topics at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum is the Ukraine war. Britain’s Minister of State for Europe and North America, Stephen Doughty, had exclusive statements for NTV. The British Minister, stating that “the ball is in Russia’s court for peace in Ukraine,” mentioned that they will work with partners like the United States and Turkey to ensure security in Ukraine.

Stephen Doughty, the Minister of State for Europe and North America at the British Foreign Office, made exclusive remarks to Deniz Kilislioğlu on NTV.

We have been discussing the Ukraine war since 2022 and the first Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Today, we are talking about what can be done to end the war. Is there a ceasefire in Trump’s mind, or is it a peace plan? What contribution can Europe make to solving this issue? Do you have links with US officials? If so, is it possible to create a common ground to turn this into a peace agreement?

“I was in Kiev a few weeks ago myself. I saw the reality again. I saw Russia’s unwarranted aggression towards Ukraine. And I saw civilians living in terrible conditions in the cities. I heard the sound of ongoing attacks in the city while I was there. It is very clear that we all want to find a way towards a ceasefire as a priority and then a path towards a lasting and sustainable peace. We are working towards a peace where Ukraine can defend itself against future interventions and be deterrent. That’s why we consistently emphasize that we want to work with our European partners, including President Trump and Turkey. Any peace must be sustainable.”

“GLOBAL SECURITY AT STAKE” How can this be achieved? What is the main idea behind implementing this on the ground? “Most importantly, Ukraine must be able to defend itself and be a deterrent to its enemies like Russia. We must ensure that they continue to receive the necessary support to counter Russian attacks. Therefore, we are coordinating with our European partners, including France and Turkey, to bring together the coalition of the willing. We held a meeting in Brussels. Important meetings are taking place today as well. Of course, we are making new commitments in terms of military, economic, diplomatic, and political support for Ukraine. We are moving forward unwaveringly and consistently in terms of our commitment to transatlantic security. We work resolutely with our overseas and European partners not only for Europe but also for European and global security. You mentioned the Brussels meeting and we know that there have been discussions about a voluntary coalition that could be deployed after a peace agreement and the deployment of some soldiers. If the United Kingdom were to lead this peacekeeping operation, what contribution could it make? “We are very clear that we will take steps in this regard. That means there will be soldiers on the ground. However, we are also continuing to support Ukraine in their daily defense. Civilians continue to lose their lives. We are also looking at the resources Russia uses to conduct this war. Therefore, we have imposed very harsh sanctions and are trying to prevent Russia from accessing the fuel and supplies that would support their war efforts. Therefore, to ensure that peace is sustainable, we need to work with the United States and our European partners. Because we know from the past that Russia has…

“COALITION OF THE WILLING” EMPHASIS The other side of this war is Russia. How do they view the efforts of European countries, for example, regarding your statements in the United States or in Riyadh, or about the deployment of troops after a peace agreement? “We know very clearly that this is a war that started with Russia’s aggression. Ukraine is the serious side when it comes to peace. It is crucial for the US and Europe to take steps regarding the offer made. However, there has been no response from Russia yet. There are many crucial things that Turkey and the UK, as part of the ‘Coalition of the Willing,’ need to do. Especially in terms of ensuring navigation security in the Black Sea. The Black Sea needs to become a safe region again for trade. The efforts Turkey has shown for grain supply are extremely important. Ensuring the security of the Black Sea is also important. Mines have been laid in the region… Turkey has taken very important steps in line with its responsibilities since the beginning of the war. We will work closely with Turkey and our European partners. But ultimately, the ball is in Russia’s court. Unfortunately, based on what I have seen in the past few days, they will continue their attacks and increase their attacks on civilians. And this needs to end. They also need to step up and be part of a sustainable ceasefire.

“SECURITY IN THE BLACK SEA SHOULD BE ENSURED” Can you provide details on maritime security in the Black Sea? Can you give information on Turkey’s contributions? “There are many ways we can collaborate. But first and foremost, we need to ensure the security of the Black Sea and food shipments here. Currently, there are some routes that commercial ships can use in the region. Many of our partners in the region share the same opinion.”

“TURKEY IS OUR KEY PARTNER” When talking about the grain deal, there were no warships around. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. So, securing these routes alone is not enough. We also need to deal with other threats to shipping, such as mines. This is why cooperation is necessary. This situation is directly related not only to Ukraine but also to the security of Europe. Therefore, as NATO allies, the UK and Turkey, along with France and our other key partners, inside NATO, we are defending all the peoples of Europe together. To defend against future attacks, terrorism, and other threats, we need to work together in many different ways. But most importantly, we will continue to stand with Ukraine. Our support for them is absolutely unwavering. We will continue to work with others, but as I said, the ball is in Russia’s court. And so far, we have not seen any progress from them.”

“DEFENSE EXPENDITURES MUST INCREASE” After the Trump administration came to power, it will be related to the new security structure that Europe has been discussing. It seems not easy without the guarantees from the Americans? What do you say about this? “We have always been very clear. Our security in the transatlantic area and in Europe is maintained by the NATO alliance. We have a special relationship with the United States. And we will continue to be very close to President Trump and his administration on this issue. He was…

However, that’s not all we are talking about. “No, NATO is the cornerstone of our security. We have always been very clear about this. We will work closely with all our partners. The UK and Turkey share this view. We will continue to work closely with all our partners. Considering the new threats we face, we will also encourage others to invest more in defense. Turkey has unique experience in these matters.”
We are not even a member of the European Union. “Even the UK is no longer an EU member. However, we are also looking for a security and defense partnership with the EU. I think this will…