Turkey has a “special” relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin that is growing despite increasing pressure on Ankara to help strengthen Western sanctions against Moscow, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told CNN’s Becky Anderson in an exclusive interview. ahead of next week’s presidential runoff.

“We are not at a point where we will impose sanctions on Russia as the West has done. We are not bound by Western sanctions,” Erdogan said, adding: “We are a strong state and have a positive relationship with Russia.”

“Russia and Turkey need each other in every possible field,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Tayyip Erdogan addressed the Turkish economy and pledged to continue cutting interest rates to fight inflation if re-elected.

“Please follow me after the election and you will see that inflation will fall along with interest rates”he said.

Asked if this meant there would be no change in economic policy, he replied: “Yes. Absolutely.”

Erdogan also stated: “I have a position that interest rates and inflation are directly correlated. The lower interest rates are, the lower inflation will be,” he said.

“Inflation will come down in this country along with interest rates so that we get to a point where people will be relieved. I say this speaking as an economist. This is not an illusion,” Erdogan said.

At the same time, he optimistically stated: “We have overcome challenges in the past, we are strong right now as Turkey.”