No Passport Needed To Travel Between Ukraine And Turkey After New Deal?

Ukraine and Turkey are currently in the process of signing an agreement that would allow their citizens to travel to each other’s countries without passports, Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman said. The decision comes just two days before Groysman visits Turkey’s capital.

"An important step will be taken during my visit to Turkey," Groysman told Anadolu Agency Friday. Groysman is set to visit Ankara Tuesday and Wednesday.

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"Ukrainian citizens can travel to Turkey and Turkish citizens can travel to Ukraine with their national [identity cards] thanks to an agreement that will be signed between the governments of Ukraine and Turkey," Groysman said, adding the two countries should also increase joint flights.

"Ukrainians know very well Turkey and Turkey's tourism opportunities," he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said in Ukraine's capital citizens would be allowed to show their national identity cards to enter both countries.

"When we remove the obstacles, the tourist flow will increase," Groysman said, noting more than 1 million Ukrainian tourists visit Turkey every year.

The prime minister also said he appreciated "strategic and friendly" relations with Turkey. Bilateral trade volume was about $3.5 billion in 2016, he told the news agency.

He also said both Ankara and Kiev hope to create a "free trade zone" with each other. "This is very important for boosting the trade volume and mutual investments,” he added.

Groysman said he plans to discuss cooperation with Turkey, particularly aviation, agriculture, energy, and the defense and machine industry during this week's talks.

He also is to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Ismail Kahraman in Ankara Tuesday, the Ukraine News Agency reported. It is the same day both Ukrainian and Turkish prime ministers are set to sign bilateral documents.