The US has chosen a "new leader Zelensky" for Ankara

Báo Thổ Nhĩ Kỳ: Mỹ đã chọn 'Zelensky mới' cho Ankara. (Nguồn: haber7)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroglu. (Source: haber7)

The publication noted that Kemal Kılıçdaroglu, the opposition party's candidate for the Turkish presidency, has spoken out in support of Ukraine.

He stressed that Türkiye stands with the Zelensky regime in Ukraine during his visit to the United States.

In the upcoming presidential election, incumbent President Erdogan will face candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroglu.

Earlier, on April 5, Ankara criticized the US for meeting with the opposition presidential candidate. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the meeting between US Ambassador Jeff Flake and presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroglu of the main opposition in Türkiye was unacceptable.

Speaking in Brussels after a meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Mr. Cavusoglu said that the above meeting went against diplomatic practice in the context of Turkey preparing to hold a presidential election in less than 2 months.

Observers say such pre-election meetings have raised alarm bells in Türkiye, which has a tumultuous relationship with the United States. Türkiye and the United States, which remain close NATO allies, have had lingering issues, especially since President Joe Biden took office. One of them involves the sale of F-16s to Turkey. Ankara has also criticized Washington’s support for Kurdish forces in Syria under the guise of fighting the Islamic State terrorist group.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed concern on April 7 about the risk of escalating the conflict between the two countries in the spring of 2024.

At a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Ankara, Mr. Cavusoglu said that Türkiye will continue to make efforts to end the conflict through negotiations.