Sybiha Discusses Trade With Turkey’s Top Diplomat

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha discussed trade agreements with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Antalya on Wednesday, Nov. 11.Sybiha arrived in Turkey to attend the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), held from Nov. 9 to 20. He is also attending the World Leaders’ Climate Summit on Nov. 11-12.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.During his meeting with Fidan, Sybiha praised Turkey’s organization of COP31 and thanked Ankara for hosting Zelensky during his recent visit and arranging talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.“Our strategic partnership is actively developing,” Sybiha said, pointing to the entry into force of the Ukraine-Turkey Free Trade Agreement as an opportunity to expand trade, investment and economic cooperation.The agreement, signed in February 2022, took effect on Oct. 1, 2026. It removes or reduces customs duties on a range of goods, though tariff preferences for some Turkish imports into Ukraine are scheduled to apply from Jan. 1, 2027.Sybiha previously served as Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey from 2016 to 2021.Kyiv also said it sought to use COP31 to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion and deepen cooperation with Ankara, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.The ministry said Ukraine plans to open a national pavilion at the conference and hold meetings with allies on climate policy, energy cooperation and the country’s recovery. Other Topics of Interest Fico Says Merz ‘Shouted’ at Him Over Russia Sanctions Slovakia’s leader accuses Merz of “blackmail” as Germany links the EU’s next long-term budget to shared funding for Ukraine. One of Kyiv’s priorities is to draw attention to the climate agenda, it added, with Kyiv reporting $14 billion in losses in January 2025, on top of widespread pollution after Russian forces blew up the dam that held back the Kakhovka Reservoir, one of the largest in Europe.The ministers also discussed Black Sea security and Turkey’s role in efforts to end the war, with Erdogan saying he plans to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Oct. 31 discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky.During the Oct. 31 meeting, Zelensky and Erdogan discussed Black Sea security, protecting maritime trade and food exports, and possible joint industrial projects. Zelensky also said Ukraine expected Turkey to increase deliveries of generators and other energy equipment amid intensified Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.Turkey has maintained diplomatic contacts with both Kyiv and Moscow and has previously played a role in negotiations and efforts to secure maritime trade through the Black Sea.These include the 2022 Istanbul negotiations and the renewed format in 2025, as well as the Black Sea Grain Deal, which helped guarantee Ukrainian food exports through the Black Sea until its termination in mid-2023. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.