Ukraine ‘grateful’ to Turkey for supporting sovereignty
Ukrainian president receives Turkish foreign, defense ministers in Kiev ahead of 9th High-Level Strategic Council meeting
KIEV
Ukraine’s president on Friday thanked Turkey for supporting his country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in the capital Kiev.
In a Twitter post, Zelensky said: “Getting ready to another session of High-level Strategic Council in early 2021.”
“[I am] Grateful to Turkey for supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he said, adding that he would be glad to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Ukrainian capital soon.
Arriving late Thursday on a two-day official visit, the Turkish foreign and defense ministers held a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday.
Speaking at the meeting, Akar said Turkey and Ukraine have had strategic partnership relations since 2011, and stressed that the bilateral relations are "excellent".
After the meeting with the Ukrainian prime minister, Cavusoglu and Akar also met Ahiska and Gagauz Turks living in Ukraine.
