Ukraine and Turkey express readiness to intensify the implementation of joint projects in areas that pose mutual interest - energy, aviation and military-technical cooperation. This was stated during a meeting of Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman with the Minister of Interior of Turkey Mr. Süleyman Soylu.

The negotiations took place within the framework of the Kyiv Security Forum, which is a major international platform for discussing the most urgent issues of development of Ukraine and the entire region.

The Head of Government stressed that Ankara's constructive stand in support of the territorial integrity of our state, the refusal to recognize the occupation of Crimea and the protection of the rights and interests of citizens of Ukraine - the Crimean Tatars – is vitally important for official Kyiv. And the efforts of the two countries to strengthen the economic aspect of cooperation are equally important.

"Our relations are quite vigorous, Turkey is our strategic partner. And enhanced cooperation in the trade and economic spheres is among the key prerequisites for the successful development of our strategic partnership", stressed Volodymyr Groysman.

In turn Mr. Süleyman Soylu said, "Our relations with Ukraine have been based and still base on partnership and solidarity. We live in difficult time when we must keep feet firmly on the ground and be together. We must continue our cooperation".

Background

In 2017, trade turnover between Ukraine and Turkey grew by 20.1% and reached $ 3.78 billion with a surplus of $ 1.26 billion. These days in Ankara, the Ukrainian-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation is having a meeting during which there will be worked out practical solutions for further development of trade and economic collaboration.