Ukraine ‘deserves’ NATO membership, Turkey’s Erdogan says
Kathmandu: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Kiev deserved to join NATO, but also urged it to enter peace talks with Moscow.
'There is no doubt that Ukraine deserves membership of NATO,' Erdogan told a joint media appearance with the Ukrainian president early on Saturday, adding that 'both sides should go back to peace talks'.
'In the war that we will wake up to on the 500th day, the Ukrainian people are defending the territorial integrity and independence of their country,' Ergogan said, 'From the moment the danger of conflict began to emerge, we made every effort to prevent war.'
Türkiye has made the 'most intense efforts to end' the Russia-Ukraine war through talks 'on the basis of international law,' he added.
'I would like to re-emphasise a point that I have always defended insistently: A just peace has no losers. Despite the differences in understanding between the parties, it is our most sincere desire to return to the search for peace as soon as possible,' Erdogan said.
Zelenskyy visited Türkiye on Friday to discuss relations, regional and international issues, including the latest developments in the war, the Black Sea grain deal and ensuring peace and stability in the Black Sea region.
It was his first official visit to Türkiye since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022.Zelenskyy said Kiev wants to implement his country's peace plan and expressed that Türkiye is ready to assume leadership in this matter.
Zelenskyy also thanked Erdogan for his country's hospitality in hosting Ukrainians in Türkiye. 'I am here in Istanbul to thank everyone who wants peace for our country and peoples,' he said. He also expressed that he is grateful for Türkiye's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The Turkish leader informed that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would visit Türkiye in August. 'Next month Putin will pay a visit to Türkiye,' Erdogan said, adding that he discussed prisoner swaps with the Russian leader.