NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a telephone conversation on February 7, 2022, for his efforts toward finding a solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. To that end, Erdoğan had recently traveled to Ukraine to engage in discussions with his counterparts.

According to the online report provided by the Turkish newspaper, Hurriyet, Turkey had become involved in an attempt to lessen the tension surrounding the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which was causing worldwide fears of war.

Referring to a statement made by the Turkish Presidential Directorate of Communications, Hurriyet reported that President Erdoğan had shared with all his counterparts his view that the crisis would be brought to an end by peaceful and diplomatic means within the framework of the Minsk Agreements on the basis of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and international law. According to the statement, Erdoğan had proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on various occasions that Turkey would be pleased to host a summit at the leaders level or meetings on a technical level. NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg, therefore, thanked President Erdoğan for his active support toward finding a political solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and for his personal initiatives.

NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg also forwarded “get well” wishes to President Erdoğan, who, [together with] his wife, Emine Erdoğan, tested positive for Covid-19.

A full translation of the Hurriyet Online article can be found in the attached file.

The original Hurriyet Online report as well as the Tweet from Erdoğan that he had contracted COVID-19 is attached here.