The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, is expecting the visit of the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to Kyiv as part of the next meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council in early 2021.
According to the press service of the head of state, on Friday, December 18, the President of Ukraine met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and the Minister of National Defense of Turkey, Hulusi Akar.
Thus, the president emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between Kyiv and Ankara and the further development of cooperation between the two countries in all directions where there is mutual interest.
Zelensky also welcomed the beginning of a new bilateral mechanism of cooperation between the parties — consultations in the Quadriga format.
"We believe that this is a historic moment, our countries have never worked in such a format. I congratulate both Ukraine and Turkey on the start of the Quadriga format, in which we can move forward faster," he said.
Turkish officials also confirmed the unchanged position of Ankara regarding the illegal annexation of Crimea. The President expressed gratitude for the readiness of the Turkish side to join the work of the "Crimean Platform", where Turkey should play a special role.
"I am grateful to Turkey for constantly protecting and supporting Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, not recognizing the illegal occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. I am grateful for the support of the Crimean Tatars," said Zelensky.
In addition, the parties noted a mutual desire to develop trade and economic cooperation in order to reach the goal of $10 billion in bilateral trade in the near future.
"Following the negotiations, the parties confirmed the agreement to hold the next meeting of the high-level Strategic Council in early 2021. Volodymyr Zelensky invited the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kyiv," the President's Office summarized.
