Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the latest developments in the Russian-Ukrainian war with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday during his visit to Ankara, informs Reuters with reference to a Turkish official.
The meeting comes after Russia struck Ukraine with a new medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile on Thursday, marking an escalation of the war. The agency recalls that Erdogan opposed the US decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to attack Russian territory, saying it would further inflame the conflict.
It is also emphasized that NATO member Turkey, which condemned the Russian invasion, declares that it supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and provides military support to Kyiv. However, it opposes Western sanctions against Moscow, with which it has important ties in the fields of defense, energy and tourism.
During Monday’s talks, Erdogan and Rutte will also discuss removing barriers to defense procurement between NATO allies and the military alliance’s joint fight against terrorism, a Turkish official said.
