Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul last Friday for showing support for the country’s intention to join NATO.
“I was pleased to hear the president say that Ukraine deserves to join NATO,” Zelensky said at a joint press conference with Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan said on Friday, after a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart in Istanbul, that Ukraine “deserves to join NATO”.
Kiev wants to join the Atlantic Alliance, but the United States warned on Friday that Ukraine “will not join NATO” at the conclusion of the organization’s summit scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Zelensky arrived in Turkey on Friday after a tour of several NATO member states to gather support.
The Ukrainian president told journalists that he spoke with his Turkish counterpart about “the security of the Black Sea region and about European security”, as well as the Russian invasion of Crimea, the grain corridor, the defense industry and the production of drones.
Zelensky referred to the fact that “the world wants the continuation” of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grains and accused Moscow of blocking it.
“Russia is behaving as if the Black Sea belongs to it, preventing the movement of ships. We must help the world overcome hunger and social chaos,” said the Ukrainian head of state.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grains, which was brokered in July 2022 by the United Nations and Turkey, to be extended.
Russia sees no reason to extend the deal beyond July 17, when it expires.
However, Erdogan promised to talk to Putin, who is visiting Turkey in August, about extending the validity of the agreement.
The Turkish head of state also promised that Turkey will help rebuild Ukraine after the war, recalling that his government is trying to mediate “a diplomatic solution” to the conflict.
Russia and Ukraine have been at war for more than a year after Russian forces invaded Ukrainian territory.
Source: DN
