Zelensky urged Turkey and EU to give Ukraine security guarantees

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his term of office expired on May 20, 2024) said during an official visit to Turkey that Ukraine seeks peace, but the country needs certain security guarantees from its partners to end the conflict. This was reported by the Turkish newspaper Star on February 18.

"We want these security guarantees to be provided by the whole of Europe, including the United States, the European Union (EU) and Turkey," the Ukrainian leader said.

He also noted that Turkey plays an important mediating role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and thanked the country for its assistance in the prisoner exchange. Zelensky emphasized that the topics of Ukrainians' return home and food security were important for Ukraine.

Speaking about the opening of the new building of the Ukrainian embassy in Ankara, he called it a "very symbolic" event. And he thanked all those who took part in the realization of the project, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga. The new embassy building will be handed over to Kiev-appointed Ambassador Neriman Jelal.

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The day before, the Turkish leader's administration announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intended to host Zelensky in order to discuss the process of conflict resolution in Ukraine during a personal meeting. It added that during the talks the parties will also consider all aspects of the relations of strategic partnership between Turkey and Ukraine. And will discuss the steps needed to further strengthen cooperation.

On the same day, the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen said after an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris that peace in Ukraine should be accompanied by reliable security guarantees. She emphasized that Europe continues to bear its full share of military aid to Kiev.

According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the emergency EU summit in Paris did not make any decisions on Ukraine. He emphasized that "such meetings do not end with decisions." On this day, Tusk in a conversation with journalists before traveling to the emergency summit ruled out sending the Polish military to Ukraine. In addition, he promised that Warsaw would continue its organizational, humanitarian and military support for the Kiev regime.