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Photo: president.gov.ua
Zelensky meets with the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs of Turkey
Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the Crimean Platform, Ukraine’s path to NATO and economic cooperation between the countries with the heads of the Turkish Ministry of Defense and Foreign Affairs.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. This was reported by the press service of the President of Ukraine on Friday, December 18.
Zelensky thanked the Turkish ministers for Turkey’s continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“I am grateful to Turkey for constantly defending and supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, without recognizing the illegal occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Grateful for the support of the Crimean Tatars,” Zelensky said.
He also noted the special importance of the strategic partnership between Kiev and Ankara, and also highlighted the readiness to further develop cooperation between the countries in all areas where there is mutual interest.
In addition, Zelensky highlighted the start of a new mechanism for bilateral cooperation between the parties: political and security consultations in the Quadriga format.
In turn, Turkish officials confirmed Ankara’s unchanged position regarding the annexation of Crimea. Zelensky thanked them for the willingness of the Turkish side to join the work of the Crimean platform, where Turkey should play a special role. As highlighted by the ministers, Turkey will support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine on all platforms. They also congratulated Ukraine for becoming NATO’s enhanced partner.
At the same time, the parties signaled their mutual intention to develop trade and economic cooperation in order to achieve the goal of US $ 10 billion of bilateral trade set by heads of state in the near future. Also in the conversation they pointed out the positive dynamics of the development of defense and military-technical cooperation.
Finally, the parties confirmed the agreement to hold the next meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council in early 2021, and Zelensky invited President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kiev.
Recall that Ukraine will produce Turkish corvettes and drones. These are the first foreign economic transactions of military goods concluded by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Also in late November, Shmygal met with Erdogan. The politicians discussed issues of trade, economic and energy cooperation, as well as cooperation in the field of transport and the military-industrial complex.
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