President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made a trip to Turkey to hold discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The main topics of conversation were Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership and the extension of the Black Sea grain deal. In a televised news conference, President Erdogan expressed his unwavering support for Ukraine’s membership in NATO. Prior to his visit to Turkey, Zelensky also visited several other NATO nations in the hopes of gaining clarity on his country’s bid to join the alliance. Ukraine sees NATO membership as crucial for its security, especially in light of Russia’s invasion.
President Biden, who is set to attend the upcoming NATO summit, stated in a CNN interview that Ukraine’s acceptance into NATO would likely have to wait until after the ongoing war. He explained that there is no consensus within NATO regarding Ukraine’s immediate inclusion, as it would mean the alliance getting involved in the conflict. Biden emphasized that admitting Ukraine while the war is ongoing would essentially mean declaring war on Russia.
During Zelensky’s visit to Istanbul, discussions also revolved around the uncertain future of the Black Sea grain deal. President Erdogan revealed that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin is expected to visit Turkey in August, and efforts are being made to extend the grain deal for longer intervals. The hope is to extend the deal to at least once every three months instead of every two.
The Black Sea grain deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, allows Ukrainian grain to be exported despite the Russian blockade. While Moscow has threatened to abandon the agreement due to its impact on their exports, last-minute extensions have managed to keep the deal intact. However, the extension agreed upon in May is set to expire on July 17.
In a positive development for Zelensky, the European Parliament and member states reached a provisional deal to allocate 500 million euros for the production of ammunition and missiles. This agreement, part of a plan proposed in March, aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Throughout the week, Zelensky has engaged in a diplomatic offensive by visiting various NATO member countries. He recently visited Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, where he met with President Zuzana Caputova and praised the cooperation between their nations.
Overall, Zelensky’s visit to Turkey highlighted Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership and addressed the challenges surrounding the Black Sea grain deal. The discussions and engagements with NATO member countries serve to strengthen Ukraine’s position and security in the face of Russian aggression.
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