Zelenskyi and Erdoğan made a joint statement after the meeting
Photo Reuters
The Office of the President of Ukraine has issued a joint statement by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the meeting in Istanbul
"We, the Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Turkey:
Reaffirming the ambition to strengthen the strategic partnership between our countries, we note the importance of implementing the agreements enshrined in the Joint Declaration following the Eighth Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council between Ukraine and the Republic of Turkey on February 3, 2020, in Kyiv.
Highlighting its commitment to the principles and norms of international law, the Republic of Turkey reaffirms its unconditional support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders and welcomes cooperation within the Crimean Platform started by Ukraine.
We agree to continue our efforts to de-occupy the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and to restore Ukraine's control over separate districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
We shall continue to coordinate joint efforts to ensure the protection of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and to release all illegally imprisoned citizens of Ukraine.
We shall work together to improve living conditions for Ukrainian citizens, including Crimean Tatars, who have been forced to leave the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and move to mainland Ukraine.
The Republic of Turkey supports the prospect of Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance and welcomes the recognition of Ukraine as a partner with increasing opportunities.
The Republic of Turkey will continue to assist Ukraine in meeting the criteria for membership in the Alliance, and the alignment of the Armed Forces and NATO, including through proper joint military exercises.
We note the importance of joining forces to strengthen peace, security, and stability in the Black Sea region through regional mechanisms and NATO.
We shall continue to attach special importance to the development of extensive cooperation between the navies of our states.
We stress the importance of strengthening regional cooperation of interested countries for continuous economic development and environmental protection in the Black Sea.
Photo Reuters
We decided to create a new format of Ukrainian-Turkish dialogue on political and security issues, annual meetings of foreign and defense ministers on the formula "two plus two" (Quadriga).
We express content with the dynamics of developing bilateral cooperation, in particular, in defense and in military-technical cooperation. We instruct the Ministries of Defense and other relevant agencies of the two countries to ensure the successful implementation of all projects of mutual interest.
We note the importance of concluding negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Turkey as soon as possible.
We highlight the need to intensify cooperation within the Intergovernmental Commission of Trade and Economic Cooperation.
We shall continue our cooperation to increase Turkish investments in implementing infrastructure projects in Ukraine, taking into account the opportunities provided by the "Big Construction" program in Ukraine.
The Republic of Turkey welcomes Ukraine's intention to join the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as an observer and recognizes Ukraine's interest in cooperating with the Turkic Council.
We agreed to work towards holding the Year of Ukraine in Turkey and the Year of Turkey in Ukraine, which will further deepen cultural and humanitarian cooperation and people-to-people contacts."
