The EU should provide a path to Türkiye's accession to the bloc before Türkiye allows Sweden to join NATO — Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Erdoğan has said that before Türkiye allows Sweden to join NATO, the European Union must provide the country with a path to join the bloc.

The Turkish President said this at a press conference before leaving for Vilnius.

"First, let's open the way for Türkiye to join the European Union, then let's open the way for Sweden, just like we did for Finland," Erdoğan said.

Sweden applied to join NATO last year after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At the Alliance's summit on July 11-12, member states are to vote on whether to allow Sweden to become the 32nd member.

It will be recalled that Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take part in the launch of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which will meet on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius.