Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated today from Brussels that he discussed with United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken the issue of Sweden’s candidacy for NATO membership and the developments regarding the issue of Turkey’s supply of F-16 fighter jets.

Turkey’s foreign minister said Sweden must take further steps to achieve Ankara’s ratification of its bid to join NATO.

The two foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the ceremony in which the Atlantic Alliance welcomed Finland into its fold.

THE Mevlut Cavusoglu also said that the meeting of the US ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake with the united opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu is “unacceptable” and contrary to diplomatic practice, since Turkish elections will be held in less than two months.

Mevlut Cavusoglu also stated that will discuss developments in the war in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart during Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Turkey this week.

Ankara is working with the United Nations to resolve issues related to grain and fertilizer exports through the Black Sea, Mevlut Cavusoglu said, expressing his concern over the new military preparations of the two sides in the war in Ukraine.