Erdoğan said that he also hopes for a continuation of the Black Sea grain export agreement. The grain export agreement between Russia and Ukraine is about to expire on July 17.
Roni Kuronen,
Elias Peltonen,
STT
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi continued his European tour on Friday, visiting Slovakia’s capital Bratislava and Istanbul, Turkey.
With the visits, the Ukrainian president is trying to gather support for Ukraine’s possible NATO membership, before next week’s Vilnius NATO summit. Zelenskyi has said that Ukraine wants to be invited to join the military alliance at the summit.
In Turkey, Zelenskyi met the country’s president on Friday evening Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The start of the joint press conference between Erdoğan and Zelensky stretched past midnight on Saturday.
Erdoğan, who hosted the meeting, stated that Ukraine deserves a place in NATO, but also emphasized the importance of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. According to him, Turkey is supporting Ukraine in reconstruction.
– I was happy to hear that the president (Erdoğan) said that Ukraine deserves NATO membership, said Zelenskyi at a press conference.
Erdoğan said that he also hopes for a continuation of the Black Sea grain export agreement. The grain export agreement between Russia and Ukraine is about to expire on July 17.
– We hope that it would be extended at one time for at least three months, not every other month, said Erdogan and added that the aim would be to extend it for two years.
The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia will closely follow the talks between the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey and their results. Erdoğan has tried to maintain good relations with both Zelensky and Putin, and tried to act as a mediator to end the war.
Erdoğan said at the press conference that the Russian president too Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Turkey in August. According to Erdoğan, the plan was to discuss at least the exchange of prisoners between Ukrainians and Russians with Putin during the visit.
Slovakia delivers 16 howitzers to Ukraine
Earlier on Friday, the president of Slovakia Zuzana Caputová said that the country will deliver 16 Zuzanna-2 howitzers to Ukraine, and that it will start joint production of new howitzers with Ukraine.
Čaputová said this after talking with Zelensky on Friday in Bratislava.
– We are among the countries that have assisted Ukraine also with weapons. We have supplied air defense systems and fighter jets. Now our cooperation is gradually expanding to other areas as well, says Čaputová.
– We have agreed on the delivery of 16 Zuzanne howitzers to Ukraine, and this will happen in the near future. We will also start the production of new-style howitzers and ammunition together, as well as assist in clearing mines in Ukraine, he continues.
Čaputová says that Slovakia already sees Ukraine as a future member of the EU and NATO.
Zelenskyi got what he wanted in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria
On Thursday, Zelenskyi visited the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, and the Czech capital, Prague.
At the end of the visit to Bulgaria, the Ukrainian president announced that Ukraine and Bulgaria will increase military cooperation between the two countries.
– We trust that the cooperation will continue and strengthen. Defense cooperation saves lives, Zelenskyi said at a press conference after the meeting.
Czech president Petr Pavel’s according to which Ukraine should start negotiations on NATO membership as soon as the war is over. Pavel served as the chairman of NATO’s military committee from 2015 to 2018.
Prime minister of the country Petr Fiala promised on Friday that the country would support Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO. Fiala promised that the Czech Republic would also deliver combat helicopters to Ukraine and train Ukrainian pilots.
During a two-day visit to Prague, Zelenskyi called on the United States and other allies to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons and artillery.
– To be honest, without long-range weapons, it is difficult not only to attack, but also difficult to wage a defensive war, Zelenskyi said.