Ukrainian delegation meets with Erdoğan ahead of talks with Russia
Photo: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye (Getty Images)
The Ukrainian delegation held a meeting in Ankara with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of negotiations with the Russian side in Istanbul, according to the Telegram channel of the Head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak.
According to Yermak, during the talks with Erdoğan:
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the positions were coordinated ahead of the meeting with the Russian side in Istanbul;
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issues of security cooperation, challenges to regional stability, and prospects for further defense cooperation between Ukraine and Türkiye were raised;
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the importance of a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Erdoğan, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin was discussed as a step toward launching real negotiations to end the war.
Photo: Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye (t.me/ermaka2022)
Photo: Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye (t.me/ermaka2022)
Photo: Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye (t.me/ermaka2022)
"We thanked Türkiye and President Erdoğan for their consistent political and security support for Ukraine throughout the entire war with Russia... We are also grateful to Türkiye for being willing to provide a platform for negotiations and to support diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," Yermak wrote.
On the same day, the Ukrainian side also held meetings with:
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Chief Advisor to the President of Türkiye, Akif Çağatay Kılıç;
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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan.
Third round of Ukraine-Russia talks: What is known
In recent months, Ukraine and Russia have already met twice at the negotiating table, and the third round is scheduled to take place today, July 23. On the eve of the meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation, which is headed by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO), Rustem Umerov.
According to a source cited by RBC-Ukraine, during the talks the Ukrainian side intends to raise the issue of a possible personal meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow, however, has stated that such a meeting can only take place after both sides agree on draft joint memoranda.
The source also reported that part of the Ukrainian delegation arrived in Ankara for a separate meeting with the Turkish side.
