Erdogan praises his relationship with Putin: “We have trust, respect and solidarity with each other”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained today how he was able to convince his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to return to the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports thanks to the “trust and solidarity” that have developed between them.

“We could not have taken this step if there was no trust between us,” the Turkish head of state said when asked by a reporter how he was able to convince Putin to rejoin the agreementsomething necessary to continue exporting agricultural products from Ukraine.

“The trust and respect between us encourages us to take this kind of step. That’s how things have worked so far. Solidarity between us, in areas such as nuclear energy, (…) initiatives in the defense industry, foster respect between us,” he said.

Turkey provides combat drones to Ukraine, but has also acquired from Russia the S-400 missile defense system and a nuclear power plant being built in southern Turkey.

Ankara on Tuesday began paying in rubles for Russian gas, according to the energy ministry, under a deal it struck last summer that covers about a quarter of its gas deliveries.

A NATO member country, Turkey does not participate in the sanctions against Russia, but at the same time declares that it supports Ukraine and tries to maintain a mediator position between Kyiv and Moscow.

Erdogan also last month ordered his government to start work on the “gas hub” proposed by Vladimir Putin to export Russian gas to Europe.

Exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea humanitarian corridor resumed in early November following a conversation between Erdogan and Putin, after Russia suspended the deal for several days.

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