Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on November 19. According to Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office, the talks were productive and focused on key areas of Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Defense Cooperation and Security in the Black Sea
During the meeting, the parties paid special attention to defense partnership, including joint production projects. Diplomatic steps aimed at ending the war were also discussed. Turkey reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty, as well as our country’s right to self-defense.
“For Ukraine, a principled position is important: Turkey supports Ukraine’s independence, our sovereignty, and our right to self-defense. The leaders of the two countries talked about further defense cooperation – about joint production projects. They discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war. But Russia should receive no reward for the war and the killings. Furthermore, peace and security for all must prevail in Europe and neighboring regions. Therefore, Turkey’s active involvement in the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ is needed, especially in its naval component. This is crucial for security in the Black Sea.”
Yermak emphasized that Turkey’s active participation in the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ is necessary to ensure stability in the Black Sea region, with a particular focus on the naval component of this initiative.
Return of Prisoners and Civilians
A separate topic of discussion was the issue of prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian citizens held by Russia. The Ukrainian side stressed the importance of returning the defenders of Mariupol, particularly the fighters of the Azov regiment, as well as Ukrainian children forcibly taken to the Russian Federation. Andriy Yermak noted Turkey’s significant assistance in these matters and thanked them for their diplomatic efforts.
After the negotiations, the presidents made statements to the press, but the format did not allow for a question-and-answer session with journalists.
Ankara was the final stop on Volodymyr Zelensky’s several-day international tour, during which he also visited France and Spain.