Putin and Erdogan discussed ways of rapprochement between the two countries in Sochi

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi. Communication took place first in a bilateral, and then in an expanded format – the heads of state were joined by members of their delegations. The talks lasted more than four hours and ended with the signing of a joint statement.

Putin greeted Erdogan with the words “dear friend” and recalled that this meeting was agreed on July 19 in Tehran. The presidents met there last time.

Before Erdogan’s visit, representatives of the Russian government’s economic bloc had traveled to Turkey, Putin said. Before the meeting, the Russian president worked with the White House on the most important areas of cooperation with Turkey. “There are many,” he explained. “Suffice it to recall that last year our trade turnover increased by 57%, and in the first months of this year, up to and including May, it doubled.”

The president also stressed the importance of the Turkish Stream, which was put into operation in early 2020. This is one of the main arteries for supplying Russian gas not only to Turkey, but also to European countries, Putin said: Turkish Stream, unlike all others directions of deliveries of our hydrocarbons to Europe, works properly, rhythmically, without any failures.

European partners should be grateful for this, the president added.

He thanked Erdogan for resolving the issue with the export of grain from Ukrainian ports, as well as assistance with the export of Russian food and fertilizers. They also gathered to discuss security in the region, the topic of Syria and other issues on the international agenda.

Erdogan also began with words of gratitude. The Turkish leader assured that he was glad to communicate with Putin. The meetings of economic delegations in Turkey that preceded this conversation were productive, Erdogan said, adding that one could speak of Russian-Turkish relations reaching a “new level.”

He announced the discussion of the fight against terrorism. In addition, the President of Turkey separately emphasized the importance of the construction by Rosatom of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey, since it should provide 10% of the country’s energy.

After that, negotiations began in an expanded format.

In a joint statement following the talks, the presidents reaffirmed “the common will to further develop relations based on respect” and the recognition of “mutual interests” in accordance with international circumstances.

Putin and Erdogan agreed to increase the volume of bilateral trade “on a balanced basis”, “to meet the expectations of the opposite side in the economy and energy.” The leaders of Russia and Turkey promised to take steps to increase cooperation in trade, transport, agriculture, industry, finance, tourism and construction.

“Leaders [двух стран] emphasized the key importance of sincere, frank and trusting relations between Russia and Turkey for achieving regional and international stability,” the statement said. In this context, Putin and Erdogan recognized the important role of “constructive relations” in concluding an initiative for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.”

The statement emphasized the need to ensure the full implementation of the agreement concluded in Istanbul on July 22, which provides, among other things, for the unhindered export of Russian grain, fertilizers, as well as raw materials for their production.

The subject of Syria was also touched upon, in particular, the importance of maintaining the “unity and territorial integrity of Syria”, and, at the same time, coordinated actions in the fight against all terrorist states was indicated.

More details were revealed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak. “Very important decisions were reached, which, in fact, are reaching a new level in the development of our relations – in trade, in the economy, in almost all sectors. Including in the transport industry, industry, agriculture, tourism, IT technologies, housing and communal services,” he said.

Energy is a key area of ​​relations between the countries, Novak said. This topic was discussed in detail during the negotiations, including the construction of the Akkuya nuclear power plant (its launch is scheduled for 2023), as well as the Turkish Stream and Russian gas supplies to Turkey (26 billion cubic meters in 2021, wrote TASS).

Putin and Erdogan agreed that Turkey will gradually switch to paying for Russian gas in rubles, Novak said: “We are moving to the national currency, and at the first stage, part of the supplies will be paid in rubles. This is really a new stage, new opportunities, including for the development of our monetary and financial relations.”

Agreements have been reached that will allow commercial companies to exchange money within the framework of trade, and citizens to pay during tourist trips, the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters.

Erdogan is the only leader of a NATO country whom Putin has met several times since the start of the military special operation.

On July 19, in Tehran, they talked as part of a trilateral summit on the Syrian settlement in Tehran. Since the end of spring, the Turkish President has been talking about the need for a military operation against the Kurdish YPG in the north of the neighboring country. Moscow and Tehran oppose the plan. In recent weeks, there have been reports of Turkish drone strikes on the Kurds, in turn, the Syrian army conducted exercises with the participation of the Russian military.

In addition, it was at the site of the Tehran summit on July 19 that Putin and Erdogan first discussed in person the problem of exporting Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports. As a result, the “grain deal” was concluded on July 22 in Istanbul between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN. A safe sea corridor was created for the passage of ships from the ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny along the Black Sea. Prior to this, Kyiv accused Moscow of blocking the ports, and Moscow replied that the ports were not working because Ukraine had mined them. The first dry cargo ship with corn in Tripoli left Odessa on August 1, the next day it arrived in Istanbul, where it was inspected, it was checked for weapons and ammunition.

Some other topics for negotiations were also announced.

Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that during the talks in Sochi, the topic of Nagorno-Karabakh would be raised, as well as the issue of Turkey’s entry into the BRICS. President of the BRICS International Forum Purnima Anand spoke about this desire of Ankara. In addition, at the end of July, Erdogan said that Russia allegedly expressed interest in cooperation with Baykar, which produces Bayraktar combat drones. The presidents of Russia and Turkey did not discuss this topic, emphasized Peskov after the talks.

Russia and Turkey have a rather difficult relationship, says Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council: “In some areas they are partners, in some areas they are competitors, but the important thing is that there is a certain mutual understanding between Putin and Erdogan.”

The position of a negotiator on important issues for the Russian Federation can be beneficial for Erdogan, the expert notes: it gives him additional weight and the ability to solve his own problems. “We see this in the example of how he acted as an active mediator on the problem of Ukrainian grain,” Kortunov notes. This allows Erdogan to strengthen his position inside the country, he says.

Turkey is primarily interested in the situation in the north-east of Syria and in the Kurdish regions, explains Kortunov. On these issues, Russia and Turkey have certain disagreements, and this will be the subject of further discussion.

Anastasia Mayer contributed to the preparation of the article