Zelenskyy: Talks with Erdoğan focused on NATO, diplomacy, energy deal

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan focused on NATO, high-level diplomatic initiatives and a major energy project between Ukraine and Türkiye.

 Zelenskyy said one of the key topics was this year’s NATO summit in Türkiye and Ukraine’s potential role in it, as well as discussions with the United States on Kyiv’s prospects for joining the Alliance and Russia’s influence on the process, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

He added that the two leaders also addressed the possibility of a trilateral leaders’ meeting in Türkiye, an idea he said was supported by Erdoğan, which could lead to further talks with the Russian side.

A third area of discussion was a large-scale Ukraine–Türkiye energy cooperation project, which Zelenskyy described as a shared strategic interest. He also pointed to coordination with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region as another priority area of cooperation with Ankara.

According to Zelenskyy, follow-up meetings took place between Ukrainian and Turkish officials on energy and defence cooperation, including talks involving the head of Naftogaz and Ukraine’s security council secretary with their Turkish counterparts.

Zelenskyy also referred to his recent visit to Syria, saying it demonstrated a broader regional diplomatic shift and signalled expanded engagement beyond Russia’s traditional influence in the Middle East.

He said Kyiv plans to strengthen its diplomatic presence in Syria, including establishing an embassy, and pursue cooperation in agriculture, food security and infrastructure.

By Aghakazim Guliyev