Kathmandu. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to pay a state visit to Turkey on Saturday and hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the war with Russia and the security situation in the Black Sea, according to the Turkish President’s Office.
“During the discussions in Istanbul, both sides will discuss regional and international developments, especially the Russia-Ukraine war and the security situation in the Black Sea region, as well as measures to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine,” Burhanettin Duran, director of communications at the presidential office, wrote in X.
Despite ties to both Russia and Ukraine, Turkey has been angered by attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea. President Erdogan told the United Nations General Assembly in September that such attacks were “unacceptable”.
Ankara has sent a proposal to Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on civilian ships, but neither side has acted. Turkey has also organized several rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine for a lasting ceasefire and peace agreement.
In a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Erdogan said that Turkey is ready to restart the diplomatic process between Ukraine and Russia and end the war through dialogue, according to the Turkish President’s Office.