Ukraine tensions test Erdogan and Putin’s complex relationship

The Turkish and Russian leaders share a distrust of the West, but many issues divide them – including rising tensions over Ukraine.

Istanbul, Turkey – For many, pictures of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan enjoying ice cream together on a summer’s day encapsulated the close ties between two authoritarian leaders with reputations as being among the West’s bete noires. The jovial scene took place at an air show outside Moscow in August 2019, a month after NATO member Turkey had taken delivery of Russian-made S-400 missiles, leading the United States to kick it off a next-generation fighter jet programme and impose limited sanctions. The issue remains at the top of Washington’s list of grievances with Ankara to this day.