Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the local elections in March 2024 will be the last in his political career.
Erdogan made a statement regarding this year's election in his career
This is the final for me. As mandated by law, this is my last election. The result of the popular vote will be the transfer of my political legacy to the brothers and sisters who will come after me.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President of Turkey
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in power in Turkey for more than two decades — he was prime minister from 2003, and became president in 2014. In May 2023, Erdogan was re-elected for a five-year term.
Turkey's assistance during the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine
At the end of February, the President of Turkey stated that his country was ready to resume the process of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which had previously taken place in Istanbul.
In particular, Erdogan recalled the relevant initiative on March 8 during the visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to Turkey. The leader of Ukraine noted that Kyiv does not see a place for representatives of Russia at this summit.
At the same time, according to Zelenskyi, our country needs Turkey's help in releasing prisoners of war and all Ukrainians, including Crimean Tatars, who are in captivity in Russia.
Also in February, Turkey started work on a new mechanism for exporting Ukrainian grain to world markets after Russia withdrew from the "grain agreement" last year. At the same time, Kyiv opened temporary corridors for civilian merchant vessels.
In particular, on January 11, 2023, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler, his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar and Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov signed an agreement on demining the Black Sea in Istanbul.
