Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul today, a day before the 500th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and just 24 hours before a crucial NATO summit.

“We need honesty in our relations” with NATO, Zelensky told reporters in Prague on Thursday during a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel. As he estimated, the time has come “to show the courage and strength of this Alliance”.

During the Ukrainian president’s first visit to Turkey after the Russian invasion, Zelanski and Erdogan will mainly talk, according to the pro-government Sabah newspaper, about the Ukrainian grain export agreement, which Russia sees “no reason” to extend beyond July 17th, when it expires.

Moscow has been complaining for months about obstacles facing its own grain and fertilizer exports.

Zelenskiy’s visit to Turkey also comes four days before NATO’s annual July 11-12 summit in Vilnius, during which the alliance’s member countries hope to persuade Ankara to lift its veto on admission. of Sweden.

Yesterday Thursday, Zelensky went to Prague, after a visit to Bulgaria, during which he discussed the prospect of his country joining NATO and asked for the acceleration of the delivery of weapons from Sofia, a major producer of military equipment, amid the Ukrainian counterattack.

The Ukrainian president said he wants his country to receive a “clear message” that it will join NATO. “Ukraine has not received an invitation in any form,” he stressed. “I believe it is necessary to demonstrate the strength and unity of the Alliance,” he added.

NATO member countries are still seeking a common line on the security guarantees they are willing to offer to Kiev as well as on inviting Ukraine to join the Alliance at some point.