Ukraine Attempts to Capitalise on Uncertainty in Middle East, Lures Turkmenistan

Ukraine confirmed its interest in restoring gas supplies from Turkmenistan during President’s Petro Poroshenko’s meeting with Turkmenistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rasit Meredow. 

"Ukraine is ready and interested in restoring supplies of Turkmen gas as an alternative source," Poroshenko noted on Friday. 

Poroshenko also invited Turkmen investors to take an active role in Ukraine’s economy. 

Meanwhile, the situation in the Middle East grew even more confusing. Iran and Turkey exchanged stark remarks, with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying that Ankara failed several times stabilising the region after Turkish President Recep Tayyep Erdogan’s comments about Teheran’s intentions. 

“Those who have inflicted irreparable damage with their strategic mistakes and high ambitions would better adopt wise policies to use existing potentials in preserving regional peace and integrity” Zarif said as reported by Fars News Agency on Friday.  

Earlier this week, Erdogan said that Iran is trying to “dominate the region”.

On Thursday, Turkish Minister for European Affairs Volkan Bozkir confirmed Ankara’s intention to do what it takes to access the European Union during a meeting with Italy’s counterpart Paolo Gentiloni. 

‘The meeting focused on Turkey’s European prospects, which Bozkir confirmed were a national priority and for which Gentiloni reiterated Italy’s support’ reads a press release published by Italy’s Foreign Ministry.