German Chancellor Scholz to visit Turkey amid concerns about Russia-Ukraine war

Amid growing concerns about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Turkey on March 14 for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Wednesday March 09 2022 05:28 pm

Anadolu Agency

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will make his first official visit to Turkey next week, diplomatic sources said on March 9.

Scholz is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 14, and talks will focus on bilateral ties, regional issues, and diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, according to the sources.

Scholz replaced longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel in December and has carried out intensive talks in recent weeks to bring about a diplomatic solution to the conflict between the West and Russia over Ukraine.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation and led to severe financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 474 civilians have been killed and 861 injured since the beginning of the war, and over 2.1 million people have fled to neighboring countries, according to UN estimates.