Ukraine considers Turkiye a strategic partner in security and trade and is prepared to ratify a free trade agreement between the two nations, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday.
Zelenskyy made the remarks after meeting a Turkish delegation led by Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı. The discussions focused on bilateral ties, drone production, and Turkish firms' role in Ukraine's reconstruction.
A NATO member, Turkiye has maintained a careful balance between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s 2022 invasion. While supporting Ukraine militarily and endorsing its territorial integrity, it has refrained from joining sanctions on Russia.
As Europe seeks to strengthen its security framework and explore guarantees for Kyiv amid discussions on a possible cease-fire urged by Washington, Turkiye has emerged as a key partner.
"It is important that Turkish businesses are already in Ukraine. Our country values this, as well as Turkiye's support and assistance, particularly the supply of Bayraktar drones," Zelenskyy said on social media platform X.
Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, developed by Turkish defense firm Baykar, played a critical role in Ukraine's early counteroffensive against Russian forces.
"Ukraine considers Turkiye a strategic partner, including in security guarantees, and is ready to ratify the Free Trade Agreement during President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's upcoming visit," Zelenskyy added, though he did not specify a date for Erdogan's trip.
Zelenskyy visited Turkiye last month for talks with Erdogan, marking his third trip there since Russia’s full-scale invasion began three years ago.
Thursday’s meeting also addressed efforts to achieve "a just and lasting peace," bilateral relations, drone production, and Turkish firms' participation in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, Zelenskyy said.
Bolat and Yumaklı attended the first meeting of a joint task force on Ukraine’s reconstruction, established under an August 2022 agreement. The task force will coordinate efforts to rebuild critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, and energy facilities.
Bolat reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to assisting Ukraine's reconstruction and expanding trade ties. More than 20 Turkish companies from the contracting and technical consultancy sectors joined the meeting, alongside Ukrainian public and private sector representatives.
"Turkish contractors are ready to contribute their expertise to future projects," Bolat wrote on X.
Since the war began, Turkish firms have taken on urgent infrastructure projects worth $1.2 billion across 100 sites, including roads and bridges, according to the Turkish Trade Ministry. Turkish companies have completed around 350 projects in Ukraine, totaling $10 billion.
Economic cooperation and trade relations were also key topics in discussions with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Bolat reaffirmed Turkiye’s goal of achieving a $10 billion trade volume with Ukraine and implementing the Free Trade Agreement.
Agricultural trade and food security were central to talks, with Turkiye and Ukraine outlining a roadmap for agricultural exports. Turkiye had brokered the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed Ukraine to export grain safely before Russia withdrew from the initiative in mid-2023.
"We emphasized the importance of food security, as seen with the grain corridor," Yumaklı said, adding that discussions included restoring agricultural irrigation systems damaged by the war.
Yumaklı also met with Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval to advance trade in dairy products and agricultural equipment.
"We formed committees to reopen Turkiye’s dairy exports to Ukraine, and I am confident we will soon have good news for our sector," he said, underscoring Turkiye’s commitment to rebuilding Ukraine’s irrigation infrastructure.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
