ANKARA, March 10. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated the country’s principled position that it will not be possible to achieve lasting peace without the participation of both Moscow and Kiev in the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.

"Last week, we discussed security issues in an online meeting with the European Union. Recent discussions related to Ukraine have caused concern among EU member states. The European Union is facing one of the biggest security challenges in recent times. And today, the value of Turkey's measured, consistent and principled position in the Russia-Ukraine war is even better understood. We emphasize that a world without Russia and Ukraine will never be sustainable," he said after a cabinet meeting, which also discussed Ukraine.

Speaking about relations with the EU, Erdogan said that Turkey "wants to develop relations with the EU and pursue the goal of full membership on the basis of mutual respect and common interests." He also expressed the hope that "the country's European friends will understand the role of the new Turkey in the changing world and define their strategy accordingly."