Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with Ibrahim Kalin, Spokesperson and Chief Advisor to the President of Turkiye

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today in Istanbul with Dr. Ibrahim Kalin, Spokesperson and Chief Advisor to the President of Turkiye. They discussed their continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression, including their condemnation of Russia’s attempted, illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory. Mr. Sullivan expressed his appreciation for Turkiye’s efforts to improve global food security by helping facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain and its diplomatic work to secure the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war, as well as two American citizens, held by Russia. They alsdiscussed regional security issues, including their support for peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve any disagreements in the Eastern Mediterranean, and progress on NATO accession for Finland and Sweden.

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