Ankara is not going to report to the European Union for its participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said.

Earlier, he described Turkey's goal as membership in the SCO.

"The European Union will hold us back for 52 years, won't let us get close to it, and then ask: "Why did he meet with this country, why did he meet with another country?" I will negotiate. By conducting these negotiations, we are not accountable to the European Union at this point," the politician said in an interview with PBS television.

The Turkish leader said he is meeting with heads of state around the world, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "I negotiate with all countries. Because we are all part of this world," he added.

However, Erdogan recalled that no one had asked him such questions during his meetings with European leaders, and he also expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with them in the same manner as with SCO members.