Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Istanbul, Anadolu Agency reported.

After the meeting, Stoltenberg praised Turkey's role in reopening the Black Sea grain deal. "We also discussed finalising Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership, which will make our Alliance stronger," he wrote on Twitter.

During the meeting, Erdogan and Stoltenberg discussed the war in Ukraine, tensions between Turkey and Greece, and Finland and Sweden's applications for NATO membership.

Erdogan stressed the need to return to negotiations in order to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible and find a just solution.

He also noted that the pace and timing of the ratification process of Sweden's and Finland's applications will be determined by the steps these countries will take.

Speaking of Greece, Erdogan said that Turkey "does not provoke" tensions in the region, and "it would be helpful that Greece acted with common sense."

The NATO secretary general arrived in Turkey for a three-day visit, which is expected to focus on the extension of the grain deal and Sweden's and Finland's applications for NATO membership.

The day before, Stoltenberg also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.