UPDATE - Turkish President Erdogan meets with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy

UPDATES WITH UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY'S STATEMENT ON X

By Kaan Bozdagan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.

The closed-door meeting took place at the Dolmabahce Office in Istanbul.

Commenting on the talks, Zelenskyy said on X that he is grateful to Türkiye for its "reliable support" for Ukraine.

"Both of our countries, the entire region, and global food security require unconditional security of navigation in the Black Sea. We can accomplish this by working together," Zelenskyy further said.

Zelenskyy also voiced Kyiv's interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation and coproduction with Turkish defense companies.

He added that they also require Türkiye’s assistance in releasing Ukrainian prisoners of war and "all of our people, including Crimean Tatars, held captive by Russia."

The two presidents are later expected to hold a joint news conference.

*Writing by Esra Tekin, contributions by Burc Eruygur in Istanbul