Putin loses Turkey: Erdogan to host Zelensky for talks on the war

Ukrainian President Zelensky will visit Istanbul tomorrow and meet with Erdogan for talks on the war with Russia and security in the Black Sea. The visit comes amid deteriorating Russia-Turkey relations, as Ankara helps Ukraine foster ties in the Middle East.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Istanbul tomorrow (Saturday) and meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to the Turkish presidency. The meeting will focus on expanding bilateral cooperation, the Russia-Ukraine war, and security in the Black Sea. Turkish presidential communications director Fahrettin Altun wrote on X that the sides will discuss steps to deepen cooperation and regional developments. The visit comes amid deteriorating relations between Russia and Turkey. Last April, Zelensky visited Syria on a Turkish presidential plane and met with Syrian transitional leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. Ukraine is now offering its expertise in drone warfare and military production. The article presents the move as another significant setback for Putin, using interpretive language.