President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Head of State thanked him for supporting Ukraine and its people, and for the constant readiness and commitment to help achieve a genuine peace.
The leaders exchanged views on the current situation and the next diplomatic steps. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is ready to engage in the format of leaders, as this is the only effective format. Unfortunately, it is Russia that avoids this and continues its war.
The President of Ukraine informed President Erdoğan about the consequences of last night’s Russian strike on Ukraine. The Russians launched more than 30 missiles and around 600 drones. As a result of the attack, 17 people were killed, including four children. Dozens of others remain in critical condition, with doctors currently fighting for their lives. Strikes hit a Turkish enterprise, the Embassy of Azerbaijan, the EU Delegation, the British Council, and residential areas.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that this is the Russian leader’s response to all the efforts by Ukraine, the United States, and European partners to stop the killings. That is why pressure is needed – through sanctions, tariffs, and political measures. The Head of State added that Ukraine is counting on strong steps.
The two sides also had a detailed discussion about security guarantees. The President of Ukraine informed that national security advisors are working on every specific component and that the entire framework will be set out on paper next week. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he is involving his Minister of Defense in the process to explore how Türkiye can contribute to ensuring security, particularly in the Black Sea. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the assistance.