Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ukraine “deserves” to hitch NATO, as Kiev continues to demand a transparent path to membership from different nations within the alliance forward of a serious summit in Lithuania subsequent week. 

Speaking at a joint press convention after assembly with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Istanbul on Saturday, Erdogan mentioned Ankara has proven “solidarity” with Kiev and supplied “concrete assistance.”

“There is no doubt that Ukraine deserves membership of NATO,” he informed reporters.

Zelensky mentioned he was “pleased” to be taught of Erdogan’s help, including that he “raised the issue of Ukraine’s invitation to NATO” throughout their assembly.

The Turkish chief additionally known as for a “return to peace efforts” between Moscow and Kiev. He claimed that Türkiye made the “most intense efforts” to convey the battle to an finish final 12 months after mediating peace talks, although the negotiations in the end fizzled out. 

“A fair peace creates no losers,” he famous.

On Friday, the Kremlin mentioned it will “very closely follow” the sit-down between Zelensky and Erdogan, including that it will be “interested” to know what the 2 leaders focus on, whereas stressing its “constructive partnership” with Ankara.

At the briefing with Zelensky, the Turkish president additionally introduced that he would host his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for talks in August, expressing hope to increase a grain export deal designed to maintain meals merchandise flowing by Black Sea ports amid the Ukraine battle. 

“Our hope is that it will be extended at least once every three months, not every two months. We will make an effort in this regard and try to increase the duration of it to two years,” Erdogan mentioned.