Ankara's diplomatic balancing act. Erdogan hosts Zelensky after his conversation with Putin

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Istanbul on Saturday that Ankara will continue to support peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Erdogan's presidential office said.

“The leaders discussed bilateral relations, efforts to find peace in the Ukraine-Russian war, and regional and global events,” President Erdogan's office said in a statement.

The Turkish leader assured Zelensky that Türkiye will continue to support negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and that the region needs more peace and stability.

Ankara attaches great importance to the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, and the security of energy supplies is crucial, Erdogan noted.

In the background of peace talks, important declarations on trade and energy

The politician stated that Türkiye is determined to increase the volume of bilateral trade with Ukraine and that it will continue to take the necessary steps to achieve this goal. During the meeting, Erdogan also expressed satisfaction with Ukraine's efforts to develop relations with the Persian Gulf countries, the president's office added.

President Zelensky wrote on Telegram after his meeting with Erdogan that “it is important that joint and coordinated actions strengthen the protection of life and ensure greater security for people in every corner of the world.”

“We agreed on new steps in security cooperation. This concerns primarily those aspects with which we can support Turkey: expertise, technology and experience. There is fundamental political will to cooperate, and our teams will finalize the details in the coming days. We discussed practical steps in the implementation of joint projects in the development of gas infrastructure, as well as the possibility of joint development of gas fields,” said the Ukrainian leader.

“I am grateful to the Turkish president and people for their consistent support for our independence and territorial integrity. We appreciate our close cooperation over all these years, which allows us to work on truly serious projects that can strengthen the entire region,” Zelensky concluded.

Security in the Black Sea

Erdogan also discussed Russian aggression against Ukraine in a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday. The Turkish president then called for the prevention of “any disruption in Turkey's efforts to peacefully end the Russian-Ukrainian war” and repeated his call – addressed to both sides of the conflict – to refrain from actions that could lead to escalation, including attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea.

Jakub Bawołek (PAP)

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