Turkish defense minister visits ‘vital’ Ukraine

KYIV – Anadolu Agency

Turkish Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz has described Ukraine as a “vital partner” in the region during his visit to the country.

Yılmaz visited Ukraine on May 12 as part of a trading and economic cooperation meeting.        

After meeting Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, Yılmaz told reporters that Turkey would continue to support Kyiv in achieving “peace and prosperity.”        

“We see Ukraine as one of our vital partners in the region,” Yılmaz said.        

The Turkish minister said trading volume between the two countries surpassed $4 billion in 2015, adding that there was also a potential to surpass this figure.  
     
Yılmaz said he hoped a free-trade agreement would be signed by the two countries by the end of 2016, adding that it would boost trade volume. 

Groysman said the two countries were “laying the foundations” of better relations in politics, economics and defense.        

“We are ready to sign the free-trade agreement; we are ready to boost our political and economic relations,” Groysman added.