THE Tayyip Erdogan appears to be backing down on key issues comments the journalistic network Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

While Western countries have suspended air traffic with Russia, “the number of flights between Russia and Turkey has tripled since the beginning of the war,” writes Gerd Heller in the news network. Last summer there were over 100 flights between the two countries on certain days. “Russian visitors are the most important clientele of Turkey’s tourism industry,” RND reports.

Since the beginning of last week, Turkey has stopped refueling Russian aircraft. “With fuel sanctions, Turkey bowed to increasing pressure from the US,” RND comments. “Washington has long been unhappy that Turkey has become the top transit country for Russian foreign travelers.”

“So far, Turkey, despite being a member of NATO, has not implemented any of the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West. Thus it became the most important hub of Russian foreign trade.” But in early March, the Turkish government cut off the transit of Western-sanctioned goods to Russia, which had been booming until then. Ankara has verbally assured the US and EU that no more sanctioned goods will reach Russia, Western diplomats say.

“This change does not come exclusively of her own free will’ notes the network. Since the devastating earthquake in early February, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been more dependent than ever on US and EU support, both financial and political. “Potential US or EU sanctions are the last thing Erdogan needs now, seven weeks before the election.”

This also explains Erdogan’s retreat in the dispute over the expansion of NATO to the North. The Turkish leader finally gave the green light for Finland’s accession last Friday. “Even in the broken relationship with neighboring Greece there is still a glimmer of hope,” RND comments: “In a meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Turkish colleague and “dear friend” Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday, Cavusoglu promised his support for Greece’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. In return, Athens wants to support Turkey’s candidacy for the General Secretariat of the International Maritime Organization.”