According to the statement, the conversation responded to an initiative from Ankara and during the talks the parties discussed other topical issues related to cooperation between the two countries’ ministries.

On March 1, Shoigu and Akar exchanged views on the conflict between Moscow and Kiev and the problems in the Middle East.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitry Kuleba, will meet in the Turkish city of Antalya.

The Russian diplomat pointed out that the meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum and will also be attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who said in Ankara that the meeting will be held next Thursday, March 10, according to TASS news agency.

President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia does not plan to occupy Ukrainian territories, but to defend the right of the Ukrainian peoples to self-determination.

He noted that Moscow cannot allow Kiev to acquire nuclear weapons and further militarize itself, which constitutes a danger to the country’s security.

The Russian head of State stressed that the continued eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Organization (NATO) is unacceptable to Russia.

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