Ukraine war: Scholz with Erdogan - Chancellor not only because of the conflict in Turkey

Created: 03/13/2022, 22:09

By: Marcus Giebel

This time he doesn't need a phone for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Chancellor Olaf Scholz is traveling to Turkey for his inaugural visit.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

As a relatively new head of government, Olaf Scholz has a few trips to make.

On Monday we are going to Turkey to see President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The news ticker for the inaugural visit.

• Olaf Scholz will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday (March 14).

• It is the Chancellor's inaugural visit.

• The focus of the talks is the Ukraine war.

Munich – The Ukraine war* overshadows the first months of Chancellor Olaf Scholz*'s term in office.

This is one of the reasons why the top priority for the SPD* politician, like for many other heads of state, is to do everything possible to end the fighting between the invaders from Russia and the defenders.

The situation in Eastern Europe after the invasion ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin* will also be the most important topic during the 63-year-old's inaugural visit to Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan*.

In addition, it should generally be about the cooperation between the two countries.

After the talks, a joint dinner is planned before Scholz will fly back to Berlin on Monday.

Scholz at Erdogan: Turkey mediates between Ukraine and Russia

Because of its proximity to both Moscow and Kyiv, Turkey* takes on the role of mediator.

Just a few days ago, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba met in Antalya* for the first time since the beginning of the war, but they parted without finding anything.

Nevertheless, Turkey was praised by the EU* and also by US President Joe Biden* for the mediation attempt.

The strong man in the White House* even thanked Erdogan by phone for his efforts.

Video: Scholz wants to take Schröder talks into account when mediating

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Gerhard Schröder could act as a peace mediator in the Ukraine conflict.

But the former chancellor had recently come under sharp criticism.

There could be results on Saturday.

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Scholz in Turkey: initial visit under special circumstances because of the Ukraine war

Heads of state in Turkey, whose countries have heavily strained relations with Ankara, also appeared before Scholz.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis traveled to Istanbul on Sunday - last week Israel's President Izchak Herzog was officially in Turkey for the first time.

For Scholz, it is the fifth inaugural visit to a non-EU country.

He had also paid his respects to the USA*, Russia*, Ukraine* and Israel*.

Angela Merkel's successor will receive Jordan's King Abdullah II in Berlin on Tuesday.

In addition to the war in Ukraine*, these talks also focus on bilateral relations and the Middle East peace process.