The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was in Turkey, specifically in Istanbul, who visited shipyards where corvettes are manufactured for the Ukrainian Navy.
He visited, he says, “shipyards where corvettes are built for our Navy. I inspected the readiness and equipment of the Ivan Mazepa corvette and spoke with the personnel of the Ukrainian Navy. I thanked them for their services.
We strengthen our country. I also oversaw the construction of our second corvette, the Ada class, and named it after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi.’
He did not fail to thank the president of Turkey and all Turkish and Ukrainian defense companies “for their cooperation to bring peace closer and make it permanent.”
Four to four with Erdogan
At the same time, Reuters, citing a Turkish diplomatic source, reports that Turkey is expected to emphasize its continued strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
According to the Turkish presidency, Zelenskiy will hold talks with President Erdogan on the course of the Ukraine-Russia war, the Black Sea grain agreement and bilateral relations.
According to Zelensky’s office, the agenda includes a peace formula aimed at ending the war with Russia, bilateral cooperation in the defense industry and the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Moscow.
Just last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that it was time for Ukraine and Russia to start talks on a ceasefire, but added that this should not mean recognizing Russian possession.
A Turkish source explained that among other issues on the Zelenskiy-Erdogan agenda are developments regarding a new regulation on the safety of merchant ship navigation between Russia and Ukraine, following the termination of the Black Sea Initiative.
The peace talks
Turkey has offered to host peace talks, while maintaining defense industry ties with Ukraine and deepening its energy cooperation with Russia, and has struck a deal to participate in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
“When peace returns to Ukraine, we intend to continue to be a strong supporter of the country’s reconstruction efforts, based on our strategic partnership,” the Turkish source said.
Zelensky’s visit to Istanbul comes ahead of an expected visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin says will take place after Russian elections on March 15-17.
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