London, 22 June 2023 (TDI): The United Kingdom and Ukraine co-hosted the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023 in London, aimed at providing assistance to the war-devastated Ukraine as well as strengthening its recovery and development towards a stronger, more sustainable, and prosperous European nation.
Türkiye’s participation in the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023
The Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, actively represented his nation at the conference alongside officials from more than 60 countries and representatives of financial institutions, civil society and the private sector.
Minister Hakan Fadan underlined Türkiye’s firm support for Ukraine in dealing with the devastating economic repercussions of the war. He also assured their humanitarian aid and assistance for the war-affected Ukraine.
During his remarks on Türkiye’s peace efforts, the Minister referred to the Ankara-brokered Black Sea Grain Deal and the deal to exchange prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.
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Moreover, he highlighted that Turkish contractors continued their work on 29 projects in Ukraine even after the outbreak of conflict. “We will continue to encourage our business people and contractors to deliver to the people of Ukraine, no matter how hard the conditions are,” he added.
Bilateral Meetings on the Sidelines of Conference 2023
Minister Hakan Fidan met with representatives of various countries on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023. He engaged with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and shared their views on their efforts for Ukraine’s recovery.
The French Foreign Minister tweeted that her meeting with Fidan was sharply focused on Ukraine’s assistance. She added that the two countries support peace and respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and these joint efforts of the two countries are strengthening their bilateral relations.
Minister Fadan also met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and they deliberated on various shared regional priorities.
The US Secretary lauded Türkiye’s efforts in de-escalating the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with a special focus on the country’s role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The initiative sharply focused on the exports of vital food and fertilizer from the specified Ukrainian seaports, signed in Istanbul in July 2022.
Furthermore, the US secretary also praised Ankara’s support for Sweden joining NATO while stressing NATO countries’ unity.
