Ukraine, Turkey foreign and defense ministers to discuss political and security relations

“Today, at the opening of the video conference of the heads of foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined the task for Ukrainian diplomats,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said during a live broadcast on Facebook on December 17.

First Lady Olena Zelenska and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Dmytro Razumkov also addressed the ambassadors, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is to deliver his speech tomorrow [on December 18], Kuleba said.

“Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu as an honorary guest of the conference will address Ukrainian ambassadors tomorrow [on December 18]... A momentous event will take place during the ambassadors' conference - the first meeting in the new, ‘quadriga’, format of cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey. The ministers of foreign affairs and the ministers of defense of the two countries will comprehensively discuss bilateral relations and the situation in the region in the political and security context,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said.

He added that such formats are very rare, but its creation was agreed by presidents Zelensky and Erdoğan, and "tomorrow we will launch it."

On October 16, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met in Istanbul and signed a number of bilateral documents. In particular, Defense Minister of Ukraine Andriy Taran and National Defense Minister of Turkey Hulusi Akar signed a framework military agreement between the governments of Ukraine and Turkey.

On December 14, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine concluded first-ever direct foreign economic contacts for military goods. Defense contracts with Turkish companies were signed by Defense Minister Andriy Taran.

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