Last minute: Statements from Minister Çavuşoğlu after NATO meeting

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu spoke after the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting.

Highlights from Minister Çavuşoğlu’s statements;

Turkey’s determination and our efforts to stop the war are obvious. Turkey can establish a dialogue with both countries.

Before the start of the war, we were planning to bring both foreign ministers together in Antalya. I don’t know if the Ukrainians can come in this war environment. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov also confirmed that he will come to Antalya. We hope to bring both sides together at the ministerial level.

9 thousand 653 citizens were evicted

As of yesterday, 9 thousand 653 citizens were evacuated from Ukraine. A few days ago, we called on our citizens in Odessa to ‘leave there’. Evacuations take place there every day. We will continue our efforts in the coming period. Our communication with both parties continues. Our work continues to evacuate our citizens in the besieged areas through Russia. I hope our shortest plan works, we will continue our efforts. We are working hard to evacuate every citizen who wants to return. Our contact with the Russian side continues at the level of soldiers. Negotiations continue for the transfer of some Turkish citizens in Ukraine to Russia and their evacuation to Turkey.

RELATIONS WITH THE USA

Regarding Wendy Sherman’s visit; There are bilateral issues on our agenda with the USA, and the situation in Ukraine will also be discussed.

We keep our airspace open. The fact that Turkey’s airspace is open is strategically and humanitarianly important. We keep the airspace open not only for Turkey but also for the citizens of the countries applying the sanctions.