Z elensky-Erdogan official meeting took place in Ankara on October 16, being the third meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey. During the meetings, Zelensky’s “Erdogan is a mustachioed cockroach” humorous program often appears on the internet, however, the mutual interests of the two countries let them forget this “unpleasant incident”.

Turkey-Ukraine relations are now at a very high level. Cooperation between these two countries became especially active against the background of Moscow-Kiev tense relations. Economic and security fields are the main areas of cooperation. The countries became close in 2016, when Turkey hit the Russian Su-24. After this incident, meetings between Poroshenko and Erdogan launched, general naval exercises took place, although it is Crimea that especially connects these two countries.

After the collapse of the USSR, Turkey opened many non-profit organizations in Crimea trying to increase its influence, but the rapid annexation of the peninsula to Russia in 2014 foiled Turkey’s plans. Following the referendum in 2014, leaders of Crimean Tatars went to Turkey, where they began to participate in mass anti-Russian rallies, receiving different awards. It’s noteworthy that during the first meeting with Erdogan, Zelensky attended with Mustafa Cemil, who was the active participant of these demonstrations. Against the background of such warming of relations, the Ukrainian media started to write that Kiev will create a military unit next to the border of Crimea, in the region Khersones through the help of Ankara, however it was only written and nothing more.

During all Ankara-Kiev meetings, Turkey stresses that will never recognise Crimea’s unification with Russia. This meeting also didn’t stand out from them, however, this time there were numerous peculiarities.

Based on the official statement the sides discussed trade and security issues, international and regional problems, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Some experts write that Zelensky arrived in Turkey for the Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles, which were well-advertised at the Artsakh war. 

Erdogan- Zelensky meeting in Ankara

One of the most important results of the meeting are the economic and security agreements. The sides decided to jointly produce Ан-178 aircrafts with a maximum payload of 18 tons. It’s noteworthy that before the meeting, in September, Russian experts referred to this vehicle, noting that Ukraine was unable to complete Ан-178 transport aircraft because of the severance of cooperation with Russia. Turkey is actively arming the Ukrainian Army. The countries have long agreed to jointly produce radar stations, armored vehicles, military aircrafts, missile systems, UAVs, aircraft engines and even space exploration systems.  Already on August 10, 2019, it was announced about the establishment of a joint venture in the field of high-precision weapons, rocket and space technology, with the participation of Ukrainian and Turkish state companies.

Besides this cooperation, Turkey promised Ukraine a military assistance of $26 mil. At a previous bilateral meeting, Turkey envisaged to transfer 200 mil. Turkish lira (about $36 mil.) to Kiev for military and dual-use goods.

In addition to military cooperation, two countries agreed on increasing volumes of trade turnover, this time from $10 bil. to $20 bil., which is higher than in 2019, when the mutual trade turnover was $5 bil. It was decided to successfully complete the free trade negotiations, which started from 2012. Ankara exports textile and food and purchase coal, iron, steel, as well as chemical products from Kiev. Besides, there are hundreds of Turkish companies, numerous shops and restaurants in Ukraine.

However, the main point of the meeting, which became a serious topic of discussion, was Crimea. Erdogan stressed that would never recognise Crimea as Russian territory. He expressed readiness to help Ukraine return the “occupied” Crimea. In response to it, the head of the regional national-cultural autonomy of the Crimean Tatars, Eyvaz Umerov advised the Turkey’s President to visit Crimea and only then draw conclusions about its status. Another deputy of Crimea called on Erdogan to recognise Crimean autonomy and only then he will be able to help Crimea.  

Such statements by Turkey weren’t new and its position on Crimea remains unchangeable. There is another problem here, when this statement is made. Currently Turkey is active in several points: the South Caucasus, where he unleashed the Artsakh war, Greece, where he created a pre-war situation for the Mediterranean and now it tries to remind Moscow of Crimea. This is were the expansionist goals of Pan-Turkism come from: Erdogan wishes to become the “ruler of all Turks”. This is a direct warning to Russia, but no more. Turkey is not ready yet to launch an open war against Russia, thus by raising such regional conflicts it is sending signals to its opponents.

It is beneficial for Ukraine to have such a strong ally like Turkey, but there is a big bait here for Kiev. The expression “Crimea belongs to Ukraine and Ukraine belongs to Turkey” often appears in the Russian press, which clearly shows that Ankara uses Kiev for its own goals. Nevertheless, Zelensky stays with his ally Ankara for some reasons. This was especially clear in the Artsakh war unleashed by Azerbaijan, when Zelensky expressed his support for Azerbaijan. There is another peculiarity here: Ukraine likens the Crimean and Artsakh conflicts, where he and Azerbaijan are in the same situation.