Putin hails ‘compromises’ with Turkey in talks with Erdogan

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi . (AFP)

President Vladimir Putin yesterday hailed Moscow and Ankara’s ability to find “compromises” as he hosted Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks. Russia and Turkey have historically had complex relations, balancing regional rivalries with finding common ground on economic and strategic interests. In recent years, the two powers have clashed in particular in Syria, where Moscow and Ankara support opposing camps in the civil war. They also found themselves on different sides in last year’s conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. “Negotiations are sometimes difficult — but with a final positive result,” Putin said at his residence in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. He added that the two countries “have learned to find compromises favourable to both parties.” Erdogan, who regularly meets with his Russian counterpart, said he believes there are great benefits in “Turkey and Russia keeping stronger relations each passing day.” In Syria, the two countries last year sponsored a ceasefire deal in the northwestern Idlib region, home to the last major jihadist and rebel stronghold in northwest Syria. “The steps we have taken with Russia related to Syria are of utmost importance,” Erdogan told Putin. “The peace there depends on Turkey-Russia relations.” Despite their clashes, the two countries have grown closer in recent years thanks to tensions between Moscow and the West and Ankara’s increasingly delicate relations with its Nato allies. In 2019, Turkey agreed a multi-billion-dollar purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system that led to US sanctions last year. Ankara and Moscow also have important common economic interests, particularly in tourism and food exports. Putin said that total Turkish investments in Russia had reached $1.5bn, while Russian investments in Turkey had grown to $6.5bn. He also pointed to last year’s inauguration of the Turkish Stream pipeline, which transports Russian gas via Turkey across the Black Sea to Europe.

Putin advises Erdogan to get Sputnik jabPresident Vladimir Putin told Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday he should use Russia’s Sputnik for his next booster jab and boasted of high antibody levels as he hosted the Turkish leader for talks. In a warm exchange after three hours of talks at Putin’s residence in the resort city of Sochi, Putin said he had recently spent an entire day with an infected aide but had not contracted the coronavirus. “I have high levels of antibodies, thank God I got lucky,” Putin told Erdogan in his palm tree-lined residence. “So next time you get vaccinated again (use) Sputnik,” Putin said in remarks broadcast on state television. Erdogan said he had already had a Pfizer booster jab and had an antibody level of 1,100. “Next time then,” Putin replied. Erdogan said nothing and just laughed. Earlier this month the 68-year-old Kremlin chief spent two weeks in self-isolation after dozens of cases were detected in his inner circle.