Ukraine views Turkey as a strategic partner in security guarantees and is ready to ratify the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 13, quoted by "Reuters", reports News.bg.
Turkey, a NATO member, has been balancing its relations with Kiev and Moscow since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022. Ankara provides military support to Ukraine and defends its territorial integrity, but refuses to join sanctions against Russia.
On March 13, Zelensky met with Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Agriculture Minister İbrahim Yumaklı in Kiev. They discussed bilateral relations, cooperation in the production of drones and the participation of Turkish companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
"It is important that Turkish companies are already represented in Ukraine. Our country appreciates this, as well as Turkey's support and assistance, especially the supply of Bayraktar drones," Zelensky said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that Ukraine considers Turkey a strategic partner in the security sphere and is ready to ratify the Free Trade Agreement with Ankara during the upcoming visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, without specifying when the visit will take place.
During the visit to Kiev, Bolat and Yumakli participated in the first meeting of a joint working group between Turkey and Ukraine, which will coordinate efforts to rebuild the country after the end of the war.
According to Bolat, the meeting was attended by more than 20 Turkish companies from the construction and technical consulting sectors, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian public and private sectors.
"Turkish construction companies are ready to share their experience and knowledge for future projects," he said in a post in X.