Turkish Defense Minister Guler meets with Ukrainian counterpart

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov held a pivotal meeting in Ankara, focusing on enhancing bilateral military cooperation amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Defense Minister Guler welcomed Minister Umerov with a formal military ceremony.

Türkiye-Ukraine relations

Military support and diplomatic balancing act

Since 2019, Türkiye has supplied Ukraine with Bayraktar TB-2 drones, which have been crucial in countering Russian advances.

On July 17, 2022 military delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and Türkiye , along with U.N. officials, met in Istanbul to discuss resuming Ukrainian grain exports from the port of Odesa. By July 22, 2022 a deal was signed to monitor and facilitate grain shipments through a coalition of Turkish, Ukrainian, and U.N. staff.

In July 2023, President Erdogan endorsed Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership, reinforcing Türkiye’s support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.

Response to 2023 Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes

On February 6, 2023 devastating earthquakes struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria, resulting in over 50,000 deaths in Türkiye and 8,000 in Syria. In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced that Ukraine would send emergency workers to aid in relief efforts.

On February 7, President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree to send humanitarian aid to Türkiye, showcasing solidarity between the two nations during a time of crisis.