Inaugural visit to Ankara: Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to Turkey to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. That’s what the heads of state discussed about the Ukraine war.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have jointly called for a ceasefire in the Russian war in Ukraine. “We are completely in agreement that there must be a ceasefire as soon as possible,” said Scholz on Monday during his first visit to Turkey. The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues unabated.
There must also be safe corridors for civilians immediately. Erdoğan emphasized: “We will continue to strive for a lasting ceasefire.” There was agreement that diplomatic efforts must be continued.
Joint appeal to Putin
Together, Scholz and Erdogan appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Hold on.” It was clear, said Scholz: “Every day, with every bomb, Russia is moving further away from the circle of the world community that we form together.” The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine are not in question.
“We are on the same side as Germany,” stressed President Erdoğan. Diplomatic relations with Ukraine and Russia should be expanded. More than 1.5 million refugees have arrived in Poland since the beginning of the war, Scholz said. “It is now a question of working together as democratic, Western states,” said the Chancellor.
Chancellor Scholz has traveled to Turkey for the first time since taking office. Turkey has established itself as a mediator in the Ukraine war. President Erdoğan had repeatedly emphasized that neither of the two partners – neither Russia nor Ukraine – wanting to give up.