Erdogan's G20 pitch: Freeze Ukraine conflict, delay NATO talks
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to present a "conflict freeze" plan for Ukraine at Monday's G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro based on the current front lines. According to Bloomberg Agency, the proposal also includes delaying discussions on Ukraine's NATO membership for at least 10 years.
18 November 2024 06:53
Bloomberg sources reported that the Turkish leader wants to convince President Volodymyr Zelensky to delay efforts to join the North Atlantic Alliance by at least 10 years "as a concession" to Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan wants to convince Zelensky: "He saw intelligence data"
Ankara's plan includes creating a demilitarized zone in Donbas in eastern Ukraine. International military forces would be sent to the region for additional security guarantees. Kyiv would also receive assurances of weapon supplies to compensate for remaining outside NATO.
Turkish authorities admit that the proposals may be difficult for Ukraine to accept but see them as the "most realistic approach." They emphasize that ensuring a lasting ceasefire should be the priority before discussing the future of Russia's occupied territories.
Erdogan hopes to persuade Zelensky to participate in peace talks in Istanbul. According to sources, the Turkish leader "saw intelligence data indicating that Ukraine could lose much more territory in the coming months if fighting is not halted."
The invitation of Ukraine to NATO is a key point in President Zelensky's so-called victory plan.
