Ukraine, Turkey Advance Trade Pact at COP31
Foreign ministers Andrii Sybiha and Hakan Fidan met in Antalya as a free trade agreement takes effect.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in International Relations
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Antalya on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on the sidelines of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31). The meeting followed the October 1, 2026 entry into force of the Ukraine-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, signed in February 2022.
Why it matters
The agreement removes or reduces customs duties on a range of goods, and Sybiha cited it as an opportunity to expand trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. Sybiha also used the conference to highlight environmental consequences of Russia's war.
The free trade agreement took effect October 1, 2026, and some tariff preferences on Turkish imports into Ukraine are scheduled to apply from January 1, 2027. Specific trade volumes and the full list of affected goods were not reported.
The players
Andrii Sybiha
Ukraine's foreign minister, who previously served as the country's ambassador to Turkey from 2016 to 2021.
Hakan Fidan
Turkey's foreign minister, who met Sybiha in Antalya during the UN climate conference.
The details
Sybiha and Fidan met on the sidelines of COP31, which Sybiha attended to highlight environmental damage linked to Russia's war. Sybiha thanked Ankara for hosting Zelensky during a recent visit and for arranging talks with Erdogan, and said Ukraine plans to open a national pavilion at the conference.
Timeline
February 2022: Ukraine-Turkey Free Trade Agreement signed.
2016 to 2021: Sybiha served as Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey.
January 2025: Kyiv reported $14 billion in losses from environmental damage.
October 1, 2026: Free trade agreement took effect.
November 11, 2026: Sybiha and Fidan met in Antalya.
Political Context
The Ukraine-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, signed in February 2022, took effect on October 1, 2026, moving the bilateral deal into operation. Sybiha framed the meeting around expanding trade and economic cooperation following that milestone.
Businesses trading goods between Ukraine and Turkey may see duty reductions under the agreement, depending on the product. Specific affected goods and timing for each category were not detailed in the reporting.
The takeaway
Trade agreements often deliver their practical effects only after entry into force and phased tariff schedules, so watch the January 2027 dates for real changes in cost and availability.
What happens next
Tariff preferences for some Turkish imports into Ukraine are scheduled to apply from January 1, 2027. Erdogan plans to hold talks with Putin after his October 31 discussions with Zelensky.
Further reading
For broader context on bilateral diplomacy, explore International Relations coverage.
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