Turkish president, NATO chief to discuss Ukraine war in Ankara

On November 25, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara to discuss the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a Turkish official. 

The high-level talks come amid rising tensions in the conflict, which has escalated with Russia's recent launch of a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile at Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The missile strike on November 21 was a direct response to Ukraine’s use of US and British missiles against Russian targets. This escalation highlights the growing intensity of the war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

While NATO member Türkiye has condemned Russia's invasion and voiced support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, it maintains a complex position in the conflict. Türkiye has provided Kyiv with military assistance but opposes Western sanctions against Moscow, citing its significant defence, energy, and tourism ties with Russia. As a Black Sea neighbour to both Russia and Ukraine, Turkey has carefully navigated its role in the crisis.

Erdogan has also expressed concern over the US decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory. On November 20, Erdogan warned that such actions would further inflame the conflict, an opinion echoed by Moscow, which views the move as a direct escalation by the US and its allies.

Additionally, on November 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved policy changes that lowered the threshold for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks, signalling a potential shift in the conflict's dynamics.

In their upcoming talks, Erdogan and Rutte will also focus on addressing obstacles to defence procurement between NATO allies and discussing the military alliance’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, the Turkish official said.