Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed on Wednesday with Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Mark Rutte, preparations for the alliance's summit, items on its agenda, and regional and international issues.

According to Qatar News Agency, during the meeting held in Ankara, Erdogan expressed expectations that decisions would be taken at the upcoming summit to strengthen solidarity among allies and bolster NATO's readiness to confront crises.

The Turkish president emphasized that Turkiye has consistently supported peace and diplomacy since the start of attacks on Iran. He highlighted Ankara's intensive efforts to ensure a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, aiming to revive negotiations and initiate talks at the leaders' level.

Erdogan also noted that excluding European allies who are not members of the European Union from the bloc's defense initiatives would not serve the intended goal. Turkiye is set to host a NATO leaders' summit in Ankara on July 7 and 8.