Turkey’s Defense Minister: Ukraine is important for stability in Black Sea region

“Ukraine is a very important country for peace and stability in the Black Sea region. This is our important neighbor. We take all measures to avoid any provocations. We carry out our activities related to the Black Sea region in accordance with the Montreux Convention. This is important not only for Ukraine and Turkey but also for all Black Sea countries,” Akar said at a press conference after the first meeting of the ministers of Ukraine and Turkey in the “quadriga” format in Kyiv on December 18, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The minister also stressed that Turkey supports Ukraine on all platforms on its path towards integration into the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

“I am pleased to emphasize that Ukraine was granted the NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status as a result of these efforts and support,” he said.

According to the National Defense Minister of Turkey, the negotiations in the “quadriga” format were successful and defined the previously outlined framework for bilateral cooperation.

On December 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the launch of a new bilateral mechanism for cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey – political and security consultations in the “quadriga” format – and invited President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Kyiv.

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