Ukraine ‘deserves’ NATO membership, Turkey’s Erdogan says

In a recent meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of returning to peace talks to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. During a joint press conference on July 8, 2023, Erdogan expressed Turkey's support for Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations while emphasizing the need for a "fair peace," stating that such an outcome would not produce losers.

Erdogan's remarks came amidst the backdrop of a conflict that has persisted for over 500 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He asserted Ukraine's deservingness of NATO membership, aligning with Zelenskyy's intensive lobbying efforts for his country's inclusion in the Western military alliance. Zelenskyy, on his part, expressed gratitude for Turkey's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. His visit to Istanbul was part of a broader diplomatic campaign, which included stops in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, to garner support for Ukraine's NATO bid.

Despite these efforts, the prospects for Ukraine's immediate NATO membership remain uncertain. The United States, a key NATO member, indicated that the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, would not result in an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan suggested that Ukraine still had steps to complete before achieving membership.

The summit's outcome is also influenced by NATO members' varying perspectives on when and how Ukraine should be admitted, with some countries like Germany insisting on specific conditions, such as ensuring the military is under civilian and democratic control.

Amidst these developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin's reaction looms large, having previously threatened unspecified actions if Ukraine joins NATO. The Kremlin is closely monitoring Zelenskyy's diplomatic maneuvers and Erdogan's role as a mediator. Erdogan, who has maintained a balancing act by fostering trade with Russia while supplying Ukraine with military aid, plans to discuss potential prisoner swaps and the extension of a Black Sea grain shipment deal with Putin in an upcoming meeting.

In summary, the Istanbul meeting between Erdogan and Zelenskyy underscores the complex dynamics of the Ukrainian conflict, the challenges in the pursuit of peace and NATO expansion, and the delicate balance of international relations amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.