Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday highlighted the «trusting» relationship with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and applauded Russia’s decision to withdraw from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.
«If we did not have mutual trust, we would not have been able to take this step or materialize it,» explained Erdogan, who insisted that this «mutual trust» and «respect» between the two leaders allow «to take such steps,» as reported by the Turkish state news agency Anatolia.
In this sense, he has argued that this is «a policy of leaders» and pointed out that both countries maintain cooperation in several changes, including nuclear energy and the defense industry. «They promote mutual respect,» he stressed, before stressing that he hopes to continue to play his role as a mediator.
He also stressed that the decision on the withdrawal to Kherson is «positive» and «important», before reiterating that he will «maintain telephone diplomacy» with Russia if Putin finally does not attend the G20 summit.
«I don’t know if there will be Russian participation in the G20. We would have the opportunity to meet face to face (with Putin),» he said, hours after Moscow assured that the president will not attend the summit and that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Russia and Ukraine signed on July 22 an agreement after the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations to unblock the export of grain and fertilizers, a pact that was briefly interrupted by Moscow’s accusations against Kiev for alleged threats to the security of the corridor.
Finally, Russia announced its return to the agreement after citing Ukrainian «guarantees», which Kiev dismissed, although contacts are still underway to try to achieve an extension of the agreement, given that it expires on November 19, in the midst of the food and energy crisis due to the war.
