Ankara: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara on Monday to address the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, a Turkish official announced on Sunday.

The discussions come amid heightened tensions following Russia's launch of a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile against Ukraine on Thursday, reportedly in retaliation for Kyiv's use of U.S. and British missiles. This escalation marks a significant intensification in the conflict that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

As a NATO member, Turkey has condemned Russia's invasion and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity by providing military aid. However, Turkey maintains close ties with Russia, particularly in defense, energy, and tourism sectors, and has opposed Western sanctions against Moscow. Erdogan has recently criticized U.S. approval of Ukraine's use of long-range missiles against targets inside Russia, warning that it risks escalating the conflict further.

Moscow has labeled the Western provision of long-range weapons to Ukraine as direct involvement in the conflict. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently approved policy adjustments lowering the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks.

Erdogan and Rutte will also discuss broader NATO issues, including enhancing defense procurement cooperation among allies and strengthening efforts in counter-terrorism, according to the Turkish official.