Ukraine's Ambassador to Ankara Nariman Celal met media representatives in Ankara to mark the 35th anniversary of the restoration of his country's independence. Celal said Ukraine also celebrates State Flag Day on August 23.
Speaking about Ukraine's independence process, Celal said Türkiye was one of the first countries to recognize Ukraine's independence. He said the two countries had come a long way in their relations and that those ties now had a strategic character.
Assessment of the front line in the Russia-Ukraine war
Celal said the situation on the front line remained difficult and that Russia continued its attacks in the country's east and south. He said Ukraine had retaken approximately 745 square kilometers as a result of its counterattacks, arguing that Ukrainian attacks on areas deep inside Russian territory had significantly limited Moscow's capacity to continue the war.
Celal said there had been a serious increase in Russia's air attacks and that Kyiv, particularly the capital, had come under intense attacks in 2026. The ambassador also provided figures on casualties suffered during the war.
Ukraine's message on a ceasefire and negotiations
Celal said Ukraine was ready for peace and had never been, and would never be, an obstacle to peace. He said they consistently supported ending the war through diplomatic means and securing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
Celal said Ukraine was ready for an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire. He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had repeatedly declared his readiness for a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders in Türkiye, adding that the meeting could also be held with the mediation and participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Emphasizing that both sides needed to be ready for diplomacy, Celal said their approach was that, for Russia, the political, military and economic cost of continuing the war had to be higher than the cost of peace.
Emphasis on Türkiye's mediation efforts
Celal said Türkiye firmly supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. He said Türkiye's position on Crimea was of particular importance and that they valued its mediation efforts.
Celal said one of the tangible results of the negotiation process in Istanbul was that approximately 2,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war were reunited with their families. Referring also to the free trade agreement between Türkiye and Ukraine, he said they expected Turkish businesses to participate actively in Ukraine's reconstruction.
Safety of civilian maritime shipping in the Black Sea
Celal said the war in the Black Sea posed serious risks to civilian maritime shipping and that sailors from different countries had been killed and injured. He said Turkish citizens were among those killed and offered condolences on behalf of Ukraine to the families and relatives of the sailors.
Celal said Ukraine was ready to cooperate with Türkiye to clarify the circumstances of the incidents concerned and contribute to the safety of civilian maritime shipping. He said commercial considerations could not justify putting sailors' lives at risk and that the safety of sailors had to be the absolute priority.
Celal said Ukraine was ready to support Türkiye's initiative for a mutual moratorium on attacks against civilian vessels, commercial ports and energy infrastructure in the Black Sea, adding that the Black Sea should be a sea of peace, trade and cooperation, not a battlefield.
