On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, a senior Turkish official told Reuters.
Turkey has expressed support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provided military assistance to Kyiv. However, the country opposes Western sanctions on Russia, citing its significant defense, energy, and tourism ties with Moscow.
According to the source, Erdogan and Rutte will also address issues related to removing barriers to defense procurements among NATO allies and enhancing the alliance’s collective efforts against terrorism.
Recent media reports have highlighted a potential “peace plan” proposed by Erdogan. The plan allegedly includes freezing the conflict at its current frontlines and postponing discussions on Ukraine’s NATO membership for at least a decade as a concession to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Furthermore, Erdogan has previously signaled disapproval of the U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to use American ATACMS missiles to strike targets within Russian territory.
This meeting underscores Turkey’s delicate balancing act between supporting Ukraine and maintaining its strategic partnership with Russia, as well as its evolving role within NATO.
