Turkey, Germany pledge continued Ukraine diplomacy

Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan andGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholzpledged to continue diplomatic work for a cease-fire in Ukraine, while emphasizing the importance of their bilateral ties and the NATO partnership.Turkey has close energy, defense and trade deals with Russia.

Unlike Europe, Turkey has not closed its airspace to Russian planes but Erdogan said Turkey had done "whatever was necessary within United Nations rules."Scholz stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine and called on Russia to immediately stop its attacks on the country.Germany and Turkey have significant trade relations, with bilateral trade 2021 rising above $41 billion in 2021.

Erdogan said he hopes trade will reach $50 billion this year. Some 3 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, closely linking the two countries.