Politics

Erdogan tells Putin cooperation with Key Russia to resolve regional conflicts

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that cooperation between their two countries was crucial to resolving regional conflicts, his office announced on Friday.

“Cooperation between Turkey and Russia is of key importance to resolve regional issues,” said Erdogan after discussions covered the Ukrainian war and the situation in Syria.

The two leaders also talked about security in the Black Sea, Erdogan committing that Ankara would take measures to ensure “the security of commercial navigation”, which, according to him, would contribute to broader peace efforts.

The Kremlin confirmed that talks included “the resumption of the black sea initiative for safe navigation and the elimination of obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers”.

The initiative, negotiated by Turkey and the UN in 2022, was designed to guarantee the safe export of Ukrainian agricultural products via the Black Sea. However, Moscow withdrew from the agreement in 2023, accusing the West of not having raised sanctions which, according to him, led to its own agricultural and fertilizer exports.

The call between Erdogan and Putin one day came after European leaders agreed to strengthen sanctions against Russia for his war in Ukraine. The United States continued its own diplomatic initiative separately through direct talks with Moscow.

“Turkey closely follows the process initiated to end the current war between Russia and Ukraine, and is ready to provide all kinds of support, including the organization of peace negotiations,” Erdogan told Putin.

Turkey, a member of NATO, has sought to have good relations with Ukraine and Russia since the 2022 invasion. Ankara has twice organized talks to end the war.

Erdogan also declared during the Friday telephone call with Putin that he was “important for Turkey and Russia to work together to ensure that Syria reaches sustainable peace and stability”.

Russia was a key contributor to the leader recently deposited in Syria, Bashar al-Assad, offering military support during the country's civil war, while the rebel forces supported by the turquies opposed him.

Moscow has since sought to strengthen links with the new administration in Damascus, in particular, to keep its military bases in Syria.

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Erdogan tells Putin cooperation with Key Russia to resolve regional conflicts

Politics

Erdogan tells Putin cooperation with Key Russia to resolve regional conflicts

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