“We are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with our strategic partner Ukraine,” the Ministry said, adding: “Our relations with Ukraine have registered remarkable progress in recent years on the basis of mutual understanding, trust, and common interests. This also contributes to the peace, stability, and prosperity of our region.”

The Ministry went on to say: “Türkiye supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea, and advocates a peaceful solution in Donbas in accordance with international law.”

The Ministry emphasized that Joint efforts to protect the rights and interests of our Crimean Tatars, who constitute a bridge of friendship and cooperation between two countries further strengthen Ankara-Kyiv relations.

“Mutual steps to be taken on various occasions in the coming period and during the 10th Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council, which is being held today in Kyiv with the participation of our Honorable President, will contribute to broadening and deepening the scope of our bilateral cooperation.”

“On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, we reaffirm our will to further develop our cooperation in all fields for the welfare and well-being of our peoples,” the Ministry concluded.

Diplomatic relations between both countries were established in the early 1990s when Turkey became one of the first states in the world to announce officially about recognition of sovereign Ukraine.

Turkey has an embassy in Kyiv and a consulate general in Odesa. Ukraine has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate general in Istanbul.

Turkey is a full member of NATO and Ukraine is a candidate. Also, both countries are BLACKSEAFOR and BSEC members.

Following the end of 2015, Turkey and Ukraine experienced closer relations as a result of both countries increasingly strained relationship with Russia.

In August 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko that Turkey would not recognize the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea; calling it “Crimea's occupation”.

On 9 January 2017 Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated “We support the territorial integrity of Ukraine and Georgia. We do not recognize the annexation of the lands of Ukraine”. (ILKHA)