A summit of leaders on the topic of Ukraine will take place in the capital city of London in the UK. In addition to Turkey and Ukraine, 12 European countries, NATO, and the European Union will be present at the meeting to evaluate the current situation regarding the war and its implications on European security. Representing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the summit, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will convey the contributions that Turkey can offer to the participants.

While the contentious meeting at the White House is on the agenda, European leaders are gathering in London to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war.

After the public dispute between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, the focus is now on the messages that will come out of this meeting. Following the dispute, many European countries swiftly shared messages of support for Zelensky. The aim of the meeting in London is also to establish a new position regarding the process that started after the meetings between US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. The need to enhance European defense cooperation will also be addressed at the meeting.

Leaders from Ukraine, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania will attend the summit. Additionally, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, EC President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, representing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will participate.

At the summit, European leaders will discuss maintaining military support for Ukraine, increasing economic pressure on Russia, and strengthening Ukraine’s position, among other topics related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, leaders will discuss the need for a strong and lasting agreement to ensure lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as planning for strong security guarantees to deter and defend against future Russian attacks.

WHAT MESSAGES WILL TURKEY DELIVER?

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, it is expected that Minister Fidan will exchange views on topics related to the Russia-Ukraine war with the participants, including US President Trump’s recent negotiation efforts, and convey Turkey’s potential contributions to the process. Fidan is also anticipated to highlight Turkey’s efforts towards achieving a fair and lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and confirm Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. Moreover, it is expected that Fidan will emphasize Turkey’s readiness to continue hosting direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which took place in March 2022, and stress that ensuring lasting security, economic prosperity, and stability in the region in future negotiation periods should be a shared goal for all parties.

PRE-SUMMIT MEETING WITH LAVROV: According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fidan held a phone call yesterday with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss the latest developments related to the Russia-Ukraine war.