Ukrainian President to Embark on Official Visit to Turkey

On March 8th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will embark on a visit to Turkey, where he will meet with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During the meeting, both heads of state plan to discuss a range of important issues, including the Peace Formula, the organization of the Peace Summit, maritime security in the Black Sea, global food stability, and the release of Ukrainian prisoners and political detainees held by the Russians. This was reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine.

It is noted that particular attention during the Ukrainian president's visit to Turkey will be focused on joint projects between the two countries in the defence industry. Volodymyr Zelensky will specifically visit shipyards where corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy are under construction and will meet with representatives of Turkish defence companies.

Prior to this, the leaders of Ukraine and Turkey had a telephone conversation on January 5th. Volodymyr Zelensky specifically sought Turkey's support in the matter of releasing illegally detained political prisoners, Crimean Tatars, and returning abducted children.

"The interlocutors paid a lot of attention to security in the Black Sea. Volodymyr Zelensky stated that despite Russia's attempts to disrupt peaceful navigation, Ukraine remains a guarantor of global food stability, and after the launch of the alternative 'grain corridor,' more than 14 million tons of cargo have passed through it," the Office of the President of Ukraine reported at the time.

Also, during the telephone conversation with the Turkish leader, the Ukrainian president emphasized that Ukraine is ready to work on improving the security situation in the Black Sea, welcomes the efforts of Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania in mine action, and is ready to join them.

Recall that on January 7th, the President of Ukraine approved the candidacy of former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny as Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Volodymyr Zelensky announced in an evening video address that the former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny told him he wanted to work in diplomacy. The previous Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom was former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko, whom Volodymyr Zelensky appointed on July 20th, 2020.