Ukraine deserves NATO membership, Turkey’s Erdogan says 

The Turkish leader made the statement at a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara, Espreso TV reports. 

"Ukraine deserves NATO membership," Erdogan said. 

He also called for an end to Russia's war against Ukraine at the negotiating table.  

"No one will lose from a fair peace. We will make efforts to ensure that a fair peace is achieved at the negotiating table," Erdogan said. 

He added that the struggle of the Crimean Tatar people for their freedom helps him to look to the future with confidence. 

"The fact that our brothers, the Crimean Tatars, are fighting for their freedom helps us to look to the future with confidence," Erdogan said and emphasized that Turkey has supported Ukraine's territorial integrity since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.    

President Zelenskyy's visit to Turkey

On July 7, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Turkey and met with the country's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

According to Zelenskyy, the talks with Erdogan focused on coordinating positions on the Peace Formula, the NATO summit, security guarantees, the grain initiative, the reconstruction of Ukraine, and defense contracts.