Sweden and Finland officially apply to join NATO. Photo: AFP/VNA

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on TRT Haber TV that talks last week with the Finnish and Swedish delegations did not reach “the expected level” and that Ankara cannot say yes to the two countries joining NATO.

Last week, President Erdogan laid out several conditions for Sweden and Finland to gain Turkey's support for their bid to join NATO. Turkey wants the countries to give up financial and political support for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and other groups Ankara considers terrorists, and sign a written commitment to stop supporting the Kurdish movement.