'Turkey will never recognize annexation of Crimea'

ANKARA

Turkey will never recognize the annexation of Crimea, the country's parliamentary committee on foreign affairs head said on Wednesday.

During a meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Andrii Sybiha, Volkan Bozkir said Turkey always respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"I want to repeat once again that we have never recognized, and will never recognize the annexation of Crimea," said Bozkir.

He noted that they will continue their effort to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum in 2014.

Turkey, as well as the UN General Assembly, viewed the annexation illegal.

Ukraine has also blamed Kremlin for separatist violence in eastern Ukraine, near the border with Russia.