Why the «coalition of the willing» is meeting in Turkey: Zelenskyy reveals details
Representatives of Europe, along with Turkey and Ukraine, are discussing security guarantees in the Black Sea.
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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy / © Associated Press
On April 15 and 16, a meeting of the «coalition of the willing» is taking place in Turkey with the participation of representatives from Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom, and Turkey. The main topic of the meeting is security in the Black Sea, but peace talks with Russia are currently not on the agenda.
This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press conference following his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Odesa.
«Different formats of the „coalition of the willing“ are being discussed over these two days at the platform provided by our Turkish colleagues. There will be European representatives, as was decided at the summit in Paris. That includes the UK, France, Ukraine is definitely present, and Turkey. The military are specifically discussing the issue of security in the Black Sea, ” the President clarified.
He emphasized that the issue of peace negotiations with the Russians would not be raised at the meeting in Turkey.
«These are absolutely two different things. Peace negotiations and our security guarantees. Security guarantees mean the presence of a contingent, the presence of Western partners in the air, at sea, and on land. This is what is called the coalition of the willing. We have already had meetings in Europe — in Paris, London, Brussels. Now there is a meeting in Turkey, because we are talking about the presence of a contingent at sea, ” Zelenskyy stated.
He added that Turkey could play a significant role in future security guarantees concerning the Black Sea.
«This is not about ending the war, unfortunately. This is about what will happen after the ceasefire. Security guarantees for Ukraine, part of which is the presence of military forces, in particular in the Black Sea. That is what is being discussed, ” the President emphasized.
According to him, this is very important for Ukrainian settlements along the Black Sea coast, as well as for the security of Black Sea ports and free navigation.
«These are slightly different matters. What is being discussed in Turkey is not a peace initiative, not negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The Russians currently do not want any negotiations. So we are talking about security guarantees, ” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.