Turkish defense minister to visit Germany on Tuesday

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - Turkiye's National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar will participate in a meeting on Ukraine in Germany on Tuesday.

The Ukraine Security Consultative Group will take place at NATO's Ramstein Air Base with the defense ministers of 30 nations including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The meeting is hosted by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, and will focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine and related security issues facing NATO allies and partners.

Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a “special military operation” to “denazify" and "demilitarize” its neighbor.

The West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to end the war that has killed thousands and driven millions of Ukrainians from their homes, including over 5 million to neighboring countries.

Ankara is actively involved in diplomatic efforts for a cease-fire between Moscow and Kyiv.