Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets with Turkish FM as Black Sea pressure rises
The revival of the Black Sea grain deal was likely the top agenda item in the Turkish foreign minister’s meeting with Ukraine's leader as Ankara distances itself from Western efforts to set up alternative routes.
ANKARA — Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other high-level Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on Friday as Ankara tries to find a compromise between Ukraine and Russia to revive a key Black Sea deal for grain exports.
Zelenskyy said he and Fidan discussed various issues during their meeting, including Kyiv’s perspective on a potential peace with Russia and Ukrainian efforts to convene a peace summit.
“I received Foreign Minister of Turkiye Hakan Fidan to discuss a range of important issues. Preparations for the Global Peace Summit and the Peace Formula. Russia's threats to the Black Sea grain corridor,” the Ukrainian president wrote on Twitter. “I thank Turkiye for its consistent and lasting support for Ukraine.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry didn't provide any details on the meeting, but released images of Zelenskyy and Fidan’s meeting in Kyiv, where Fidan also met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
