Zelensky, in Turkey/ President Erdogan supports Ukraine's membership in NATO

2023-07-08 11:58:45, Kosova & Bota CNA

Zelensky, in Turkey/ President Erdogan supports Ukraine's membership in

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for Ukraine's NATO membership early Saturday, saying the war-torn country deserves to join the alliance.

Mr. Erdogan made the comments at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in Turkey as part of a European tour to secure support for Ukraine's membership in the post-war military alliance with Russia.

NATO leaders meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania next week are expected to reaffirm that Ukraine will join their alliance in the future.

"There is no doubt that Ukraine deserves NATO membership," Erdogan told reporters.

His support for Ukraine comes as Turkey has delayed giving final approval to Sweden's NATO membership, saying Stockholm is not cracking down hard enough on Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara sees as threats to its security.

Sweden, along with Finland, gave up the neutral status it held for decades and applied for NATO membership after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine last year. Turkey's parliament ratified Finland's membership earlier this year after Ankara expressed satisfaction with its efforts to address Turkey's security concerns.

President Erdogan also said Turkey was working towards expanding a grain deal brokered by Turkey and the UN that has cleared the way for the export of more than 30 million tons of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

The agreement, which has helped moderate rising global food prices, is set to expire on July 17. Russia has been reluctant to extend the deal, citing obstacles to its food and fertilizer exports.

President Zelensky accused Russia of obstructing the movement of ships.

"Russia acts as if it controls the entire Black Sea, as if it owns the entire area," President Zelenskiy said on his first trip to Turkey since the start of Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Mr Erdogan said Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit Turkey in August, when he hoped to discuss renewing the grain deal as well as reaching an agreement on a possible prisoner exchange.

Turkey has maintained close ties with Ukraine and Russia, using its relations with both countries to act as a mediator./ VOA