Appeal to Zelensky: Ukraine’s ties with Türkiye, Europe and America must not be poisoned

By Yusuf İnan

Journalist | Political and Strategic Analyst

MYKOLAIV, UKRAINE — I am writing these lines as a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye, a journalist of nearly 30 years, and the father of three young girls living in Ukraine. This is not an accusation against Ukraine. It is a sincere appeal to prevent Ukraine’s just cause from being harmed.

Since the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Turkish state and the Turkish people have supported Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of its people to live freely. Türkiye stood with Ukraine in the most difficult days of the war through diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, the grain corridor, prisoner exchanges, defense cooperation and its position on international platforms.

As a Turkish citizen, I understand the pain of the Ukrainian people, their struggle and their rightful resistance against occupation. That is precisely why I am deeply concerned that some local practices I experienced in Mykolaiv may harm the reputation of the Ukrainian state, the friendship between Türkiye and Ukraine, and Ukraine’s moral standing before world public opinion.

This is not merely a personal grievance

At first glance, what I experienced may look like an administrative problem involving a foreigner, residence documents and local authorities. But in reality, the matter is much deeper than that.

I am a father who wants to remain beside his three young daughters in Ukraine. I am a father who does not want to leave his children alone under wartime conditions. I want to be with them for their safety, psychology and future.

During my immigration process in Mykolaiv, my documents were not accepted for a long time. For approximately 79 days, the normal administrative process was not properly carried out. Later, after applications were submitted to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and to the Office of President Volodymyr Zelensky, my documents were accepted, the legal procedure was processed and my legal stay was officially extended.

This point is very important. The fact that the process moved forward legally after central authorities became involved suggests that the problem may not have stemmed from the general will of the Ukrainian state, but from certain local-level practices.

The meeting involving SBU officers must be clarified

Later, a meeting in Mykolaiv caused much more serious concern for me.

I was invited by individuals who initially presented themselves as officials connected to the Mykolaiv Migration Office. It later became clear, according to my understanding of the encounter, that they were connected to the SBU.

During this meeting, my phone was examined without a clear legal basis being shown to me. I believe my personal data was accessed, materials on my phone were recorded, and I have serious concerns that spyware may have been installed on the device.

This is not a final accusation. It is a serious claim that must be clarified through technical examination. If no such intervention took place, this should be officially and technically established. If it did take place, then it must be explained under which court decision, which legal grounds and which authority it was carried out.

More importantly, the message conveyed to me during that meeting was essentially this: leave your children in Ukraine under wartime conditions and return to your country.

There can be no heavier message for a father.

Ukraine calls on the world to reunite children with their families

Today, the Ukrainian state is making a rightful appeal to the entire world for Ukrainian children taken by Russia to be returned to their families. This appeal is morally powerful. Separating children from their families is one of the gravest violations of the laws of war, human rights and conscience.

But what happens if, at such a time, the impression emerges that on Ukrainian soil, three young girls are being separated from their Turkish father?

Would people in Türkiye, Europe, America and around the world not ask the following question?

While we are working to help return children to their families in the war in Ukraine, why are some local officials in Ukraine trying to separate a father from his children?

Such an image harms Ukraine. It weakens Ukraine’s just cause. It can be exploited by Russian propaganda.

This is my greatest concern.

This process may be exploited by Russian propaganda

At this point, I want to draw attention to a very sensitive issue.

I am not accusing anyone, with final certainty, of being a “Russian agent.” Such an allegation requires serious evidence, an official investigation and a legal process. But asking the following question is both my right and a necessity for the security of the Ukrainian state:

Is what happened in Mykolaiv merely a local abuse of authority? Is it personal hostility? Is it bureaucratic arbitrariness? Or is it a deeper security vulnerability that Russia could exploit to damage Ukraine’s international reputation?

This question must be investigated by central authorities.

Because the war is not being fought only on the front line. It is also being fought in the field of perception, diplomacy, human rights and international public opinion. Ukraine’s legitimacy is based not only on military resistance, but also on its claim to be a state governed by the rule of law, respectful of human rights and committed to protecting family unity.

A wrong local practice can damage the moral superiority of the central state.

Türkiye-Ukraine friendship must not be poisoned

Relations between Türkiye and Ukraine are not ordinary bilateral relations. These ties are multi-layered, involving Black Sea security, energy, defense industry, trade, humanitarian diplomacy, Crimean Tatars, the Turkic world and the balance within the Orthodox world.

Türkiye stood with Ukraine in its most difficult days. The Turkish people saw Ukraine’s pain. Türkiye pursued a careful and strategic line: it did not completely sever its relations with Russia, but it defended Ukraine’s sovereignty.

In addition, the process through which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church moved away from dependence on Moscow through the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul further increased the historical and symbolic importance of Türkiye and Istanbul for Ukraine.

On such a foundation, the impression that a Turkish journalist and father is being pressured to separate from his three young daughters would harm Türkiye-Ukraine relations.

Who would want such damage?

The Ukrainian state? I do not want to believe that.

The Turkish people? No.

Then we must calmly ask: who benefits from this process?

The Ukrainian central state must take ownership of this file

My appeal is clear.

I call on President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the central leadership of the SBU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Ombudsman’s Office, members of the Ukrainian Parliament and friends of Ukraine:

Investigate this process in Mykolaiv independently, centrally and transparently.

Investigate why the documents of a Turkish citizen were not accepted for such a long time.

Investigate why, after applications to central authorities, the same file suddenly moved into the legal process.

Investigate the legal basis of the meeting involving SBU officers.

If a phone examination was carried out, investigate under which decision it was conducted.

Investigate whether personal data was taken and whether any technical intervention was made to the phone.

Investigate whether a father was advised or pressured to leave his children in Ukraine under wartime conditions and return to his country.

Most importantly, investigate whether this process carries the possibility of a local error, abuse of authority, personal hostility or external manipulation that could harm Ukraine’s international reputation.

I am not an enemy of Ukraine

The reason I write this article is not to accuse Ukraine. It is certainly not to stand against Ukraine.

I do not want Ukraine’s just cause to be harmed by local mistakes, arbitrary practices, unlawful actions or malicious guidance.

I am a father who does not want to leave his children alone under wartime conditions.

I am a Turkish citizen who does not want Türkiye-Ukraine friendship to be poisoned.

I am a journalist who does not want Ukraine’s rightful struggle against Russia to be overshadowed by local scandals that could become material for Russian propaganda.

That is why this is not a call of anger. It is a call of responsibility.

Do not separate a father from his children

Today, Ukraine is telling the conscience of the world: do not separate children from their families.

With the same conscience, I say to Ukraine:

Do not separate a father from his three young daughters.

Children have already suffered enough in this war. Fathers, mothers, families, cities and countries have already been wounded enough. The Ukrainian central state must not allow its just cause to be overshadowed by local mistakes.

The file in Mykolaiv is not only my file. It is a test of family unity, the best interests of children, the rule of law, Türkiye-Ukraine friendship and Ukraine’s international reputation.

Ukraine must pass this test with justice, transparency and law.

This is my request.

Yusuf Inan

www.wisenewspress.com

Yusuf Inan is a journalist and writer. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of UAPresa.com, WiseNewsPress.com, SehitlerOlmez.com and YerelGundem.com, and specializes in strategic and political analysis of Turkish and global affairs.