Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Istanbul on Saturday on an official visit, meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Zelenskyy announced that the meeting agreed on “new steps” in the technological and specialized sectors and the expansion of security co-operation between the two countries.
According to the Ukrainian president, the teams of the two sides will finalize the details soon.
The Turkish presidential office also announced that Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s support for the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia during the meeting.
The meeting also discussed opportunities for cooperation in joint gas infrastructure projects and joint development of the gas field.
Ukraine has also recently signed security cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
As a NATO member with close ties to Ukraine and Russia, Turkey hosted peace talks early in the war between the two countries.
During a meeting on Saturday at the presidential office in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Ukrainian counterpart that his country attaches great importance to security in the Black Sea.
Last week, a drone struck a crude oil tanker heading from Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait. Turkey condemned the incident.
