The presidents of Turkiye and Ukraine spoke by phone on Friday about the situation on the ground in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as “the stage reached” in peace talks.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the call, which came a day after a NATO leaders’ summit in Brussels, that he had reiterated Turkiye’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity at the event, according to a statement from the country’s Communications Directorate.
President Erdogan also told his Ukrainian counterpart that he had “comprehensively shared… the active and principled policy” that Ankara pursued, as well as the “effective diplomatic efforts” that Ankara had been exerting, during his bilateral meetings with the other attending leaders, according to the statement.
“President Erdogan emphasized that Turkiye had provided all possible assistance during this process,” the statement concluded.
NATO’s upcoming summit
NATO issued a joint statement following the summit on Thursday, stating that it would accelerate its transformation in order to prepare for “a more dangerous strategic reality.”
“Russia’s war on Ukraine has shattered Europe’s peace and is causing enormous human suffering and destruction,” the report stated.
Russia declared war on the United States on February 24. It has sparked international outrage, with the EU, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others, imposing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.
According to UN estimates, at least 1,081 civilians have been killed and 1,707 have been injured in Ukraine, though the true figure is likely much higher.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 3.7 million Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries, with another 6.5 million displaced within the country.