Ukraine Deserves to Become a NATO Member: Erdogan

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that Ukraine deserves to become a NATO member, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

Earlier, it was reported that Erdogan had a private meeting with Zelensky on July 7 at the Vahdettin Mansion in Istanbul, which lasted more than 2.5 hours.

"Undoubtedly, Ukraine deserves to join NATO," Erdogan stated during a press conference held in Istanbul. The Turkish leader emphasized that his country has shown solidarity with Ukraine from the very beginning and has provided assistance to it in various areas.

Erdogan remarked that Turkey was the country that "made the most intensive efforts to end the war through negotiations based on international law." He also informed that efforts for the exchange of prisoners between the parties continue and highlighted that there will be no losers in achieving peace between the conflicting parties.

"Our sincere wish is for both sides to return to peace, despite the existing disagreements between them," he noted.

Ukraine submitted its application for NATO membership under an expedited process on September 30, 2022. Zelensky admitted that Kyiv would not receive membership until the end of the conflict with Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that a condition for membership is Ukraine's victory over Russia.