Putin, Erdogan agree to cement ties

Turkey and Russia have reached a clear consensus on normalising ties, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said in a press conference following a meeting between the two. Putin said the two discussed the expansion of economic ties between the two countries. “The return of our tourists to Turkey is on […]

Turkey and Russia have reached a clear consensus on normalising ties, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said in a press conference following a meeting between the two.
Putin said the two discussed the expansion of economic ties between the two countries.
“The return of our tourists to Turkey is on our agenda,” Putin said, adding that the two countries are working to restore charter flights from Russia to Turkey.
Erdogan said steps will be taken in “joint investment issues” and other economic ties, adding that a gas project with Russia will be made a reality soon.
It was the first meeting between Putin and Erdogan since Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet last November, sparking a deep diplomatic crisis.
Erdogan’s visit to Putin’s hometown of St Petersburg on Tuesday was also his first foreign trip since a failed coup attempt last month that sparked a purge of alleged coup supporters in the military, judiciary, civil service and education sector, and cast a shadow over Turkey’s relations with the West.