It is also Erdogan’s first state trip overseas since the attempted coup in Turkey in July.
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Al Jazeera said that “one of the interesting things about the whole spat between Russian Federation and Turkey is how much of it seemed to be driven by the personalities of the two leaders; not actually to do with any of the interests the two countries shared”. The Russian agency added that the two leaders also talked about the Syrian crisis. Russia’s bombing campaign in support of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad had already put a chill on relations between Moscow and Ankara, which supports rebel groups in Syria’s five-year civil war and wants to see Assad leave power.
Putin and Erdogan said they would start discussing the conflict after the press conference, but the Russian leader insisted both sides were committed to finding a peaceful solution.
About the Turkish Stream pipeline, Erdogan said the project would now be executed “as fast as possible”.
This is the first time both leaders have met following the downing of a Russian warplane last November over airspace violation. “They have failed the test following the coup attempt”, he said in the interview, which was broadcast live.
Relations between Turkey and Russia were sorely tested by Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane along the Syrian border in November, but Erdogan and Putin have good reasons to “send a message to the United States and European Union, ” which have not been almost as sympathetic to Erdogan after the failed coup. However, he said if the West “loses” Turkey it will be because of its own mistakes, not Ankara’s good ties with Russia, China or the Islamic world.
While Putin also spoke of rebuilding ties, he sounded more cautious, warning that it will take time to fully restore them.
A breakthrough in the crisis between the countries came in June when Erdogan and Putin reestablished contact.
Turkish authorities have ousted thousands of military personnel including almost half its generals and admirals since a rogue military faction tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power.
At the meeting, Putin said Russian Federation and Turkey would discuss ways of restoring trade and economic ties to combat terrorism.
Erdogan publicly made it clear he feels let down by the United States and the European Union.
Turkey has demanded the US extradite Islamic leader Fethullah Gulen, now living in Pennsylvania, whom the Turks say is responsible for the failed coup. Gulen has repeatedly denied any involvement. The crackdown has been excessive, but it is important to envisage what would have been the US government’s response to an attempted coup d’etat by the military.
A Turkish rear admiral on a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation assignment in the U.S. has sought asylum in the country after Ankara sought his detention following the failed July 15 coup, state-run media said on Wednesday.
“Russia is a main, key and very important player in establishing peace in Syria”, Mr Erdogan said. He didn’t touch on Ankara’s demand for Gulen’s extradition.
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The failed coup saw renegade Turkish military officers using jets, helicopters and tanks to try to take power in a night of violence that left more than 270 people dead.
