Zelenskyy’s diplomatic tour continues with visit to Türkiye and meeting with Erdogan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Türkiye tomorrow, February 18, for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

The visit was confirmed by Fahrettin Altun, Director of Communications for the Turkish President, Caliber.Az reports referencing Turkish media.

Altun explained that Zelenskyy’s visit comes at the invitation of Erdogan, and the leaders will discuss various aspects of the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Türkiye. They are expected to address future steps to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The meeting will also cover recent developments in Ukraine, along with broader regional and global issues, according to Altun. Zelenskyy had previously announced his plans to visit Türkiye before travelling to Saudi Arabia.

The last encounter between Zelenskyy and Erdogan took place in September 2024 during the UN General Assembly, where the two leaders discussed Ukraine-Turkey relations and other matters.

Earlier on February 16, Zelensky flew to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On February 17, he and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the signing ceremony for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Ukraine and the UAE.

The CEPA is designed to boost trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two nations. The agreement, which was formalized at Qasr Al Shati, will exempt 99% of Ukrainian imports from UAE goods and 97% of Ukrainian exports to the UAE from customs duties.

The deal is expected to contribute $369 million to the UAE's GDP and $874 million to Ukraine's GDP by 2031. It is also poised to support Ukraine’s economic recovery and expand collaboration in sectors such as infrastructure, heavy industry, aviation, aerospace, and information technology.

Ukraine remains strategically significant for the UAE, with bilateral trade between the countries reaching $372.4 million in 2024.

By Tamilla Hasanova