Türkiye, UK align on Ukraine’s future as London summit nears

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on February 28 to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, bilateral relations, and broader regional and global issues.

The call comes ahead of a high-level Leaders' Summit that Starmer is set to convene in London on March 2, which will include key international partners, Caliber.Az reports per UK government.

During the conversation, Prime Minister Starmer reiterated the UK's steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary to deter Russian aggression. He emphasized the importance of working together with international allies to ensure European security and to drive forward meaningful action on Ukraine. Starmer also outlined his objectives for the summit, which will focus on bolstering Ukraine's defence and seeking a coordinated response to the ongoing conflict.

President Erdoğan, for his part, reiterated Türkiye's efforts to contribute to peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, underscoring that his country is ready to continue hosting negotiations and playing a central role in efforts to secure a fair and lasting peace.

Erdoğan noted Türkiye's past efforts in facilitating dialogue between the two warring nations, including hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara on February 18, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the conflict through diplomatic means.

President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye is ready to continue doing its part, including hosting negotiations to facilitate peace, as it has done up until now.

The upcoming summit in London, which will take place on March 2, is expected to be a critical moment for European and international leaders to discuss the future of Ukraine and the broader security implications of the war. Starmer has invited over a dozen European and EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, as well as representatives from NATO and the European Union.

The summit will also feature leaders from NATO member states such as the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, are also expected to attend.

This summit follows Starmer’s recent talks with US President Donald Trump, where they discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine and their shared commitment to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and security. Starmer has emphasized the importance of uniting international leaders to ensure a robust and unified approach to the conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva