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NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Ukraine and
Russia in the Black Sea and has good ties with both. It has said
the invasion is unacceptable and voiced support for Ukraine, but
has also opposed sanctions on Moscow, while offering to mediate.
Ukraine said on Sunday it was working with Turkey and Israel as
mediators to set a place and framework for talks with Russia,
after Turkey hosted the foreign ministers of the warring nations
for the first high-level talks last week.
Monday's visit will mark Scholz's first trip to Turkey since
taking office in December 2021 and comes amid efforts by Germany
to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Moscow's
invasion. Germany and France have taken leading roles within the
European Union to end the war.
"Aside from bilateral ties, an exchange of views is expected to
be held on other regional and international issues, primarily
Ukraine and Turkey-EU relations," the Turkish Presidency said.
Turkey says it can facilitate peace talks between Ukraine and
Russia, but says that a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors are
needed first.
Turkey says it has citizens in areas hit by the fighting and has
asked Moscow for support in evacuating them while delivering
humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Russia calls its operation a "special military operation" aimed
at capturing what it regards as dangerous nationalists in
Ukraine.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and
Gareth Jones)
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