Key points
- Ankara could remedy European defence: Erdogan
- Turkey should be included in the talks: Zelensky
ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Erdoğan says only Turkiye could save the European Union from the troubles it has fallen into due to Ukraine war. Ankara could remedy European defence, revive the aging population in the continent. “This could only happen with Ankara’s EU membership.”
Ragıp Soylu, a journalist posted this on X with a video of the Turkish President Recep Erdoğan.
NEW: Erdogan says only Turkey could save the European Union from the troubles it has fallen into due to Ukraine war. Ankara could remedy European defense, revive the aging population in the continent
“This could only happen with Ankara’s EU membership”
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) February 24, 2025
According to a report published in Middle East Eye earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Turkiye and European countries must be involved in negotiations and security guarantees to end the war with Russia, during a visit to Ankara on Tuesday.
Turkey’s role in talks
“Turkiye, the UK and the European Union, along with the US, should be included in the talks, as well as in the security guarantees,” Zelensky said during a press briefing with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“The negotiations must be fair, and this can only work if all relevant countries participate in the process. No one should be left behind.”
Turkiye, the UK and the European Union, along with the US, should be included in the talks, as well as in the security guarantees.” – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Zelensky’s visit to Turkiye coincided with US talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia on the same day, a meeting that excluded Ukraine and the EU.
According to Middle East Eye, since taking office, US President Donald Trump and his administration, including Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have indicated that Washington would negotiate with Moscow without EU involvement.
