In a significant move, Turkish President expressed his support for Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul. Erdogan emphasized that Ukraine deserves membership in the Western military alliance and called for a return to peace talks to end the conflict that has persisted for 500 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Erdogan's support, particularly as Ukraine prepares for a crucial NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Ukrainian leader has been actively lobbying for his country's inclusion in NATO, underscoring Ukraine's role as Europe's last line of defense against Russia's aggression. Zelenskyy recently visited the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Bulgaria to garner support for Ukraine's NATO membership bid ahead of the upcoming summit, according to Aljazeera.
While Zelenskyy received pledges of support from Prague and Sofia for Ukraine to join NATO, the timeline for membership remains uncertain. The United States, dampening hopes of an immediate invitation, stated that the summit would not result in a formal membership offer. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan noted that the summit would mark an important step towards membership but acknowledged that Ukraine needs to fulfill further requirements before joining NATO.
The conditions for Ukraine's membership have been the subject of debate among NATO member countries, with Germany emphasizing the importance of civilian and democratic control over the military. Consequently, the specifics of Ukraine's offer at the Vilnius summit remain unclear, with Zelenskyy acknowledging that joining NATO while at war with Russia is unlikely. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned of unspecified actions if Ukraine were to join NATO.
The discussions between Zelenskyy and Erdogan in Turkey have drawn keen attention from the Kremlin, which seeks to avoid international isolation by cultivating strong ties with the Turkish leader. While Erdogan has positioned himself as a neutral mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, his unequivocal support for Ukraine's NATO aspirations risks drawing criticism from Putin. Erdogan revealed that Putin would visit Turkey soon, during which they would discuss potential prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine, an issue that Erdogan has previously assisted in resolving.
