Turkey-Ukraine Defense Cooperation Not Directed Against Third Countries - Erdogan - UrduPoint

Turkish-Ukrainian defense cooperation is not directed against third countries, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is currently on an official visit to Istanbul.

"An important element of our cooperation is cooperation in the defense industry. Taking into account the issues of defense and security, we have launched work in the "2+2" format [the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries]. In this way, we will strengthen coordination between our countries. Cooperation between our countries is not an initiative that is aimed at third countries," Erdogan said at a joint presser with Zelenskyy.

The Turkish leader also expressed support for the Ukraine-promoted "Crimean platform."

"Turkey supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Our principled position is non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea...