About Ukraine and "Invasion of Syria": Erdogan wants to talk to Putin
Created: 08/05/2022 10:19 am
By: Stefan Krieger
The focus of the talks between Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan is likely to be the Ukraine war and the situation in Syria.
Sochi – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is traveling to Russia today (5 August) for talks with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
Putin receives Erdogan in Sochi on the Black Sea.
It is the second meeting between the two heads of state since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine began in February.
Erdogan has repeatedly offered to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv.
Erdogan and Putin last met in Tehran in mid-July.
Three days later Moscow, Kyiv, Ankara and the UN signed an agreement to allow Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea again.
Last Monday, the first ship loaded with corn left the port of Odessa.
Other ships are to follow.
Because of the war, all Ukraine's grain exports from its Black Sea ports have been blocked in recent months.
Putin and Erdogan at their recent meeting in Iran's capital, Tehran.
© Sergei Savostyanov/dpa
Erdogan credits the resumption of grain deliveries as his own diplomatic success.
The end of the Ukraine war and the conflict in Syria are expected to dominate talks between Putin and his Turkish counterpart.
Putin and Erdogan: Moscow against Turkish offensive in Syria
But the relationship between the interlocutors is not without tensions.
Putin told Turkey's leader in Tehran last month that Russia remains opposed to any new offensive Turkey plans against Kurdish militants in northern Syria.
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Analysts believe these tensions are part of the "competitive collaboration" that has shaped the relationship between the two leaders over the past 20 years,
themoscowtimes writes
.
“Russia's war against Ukraine has restored Turkey's self-image as a major geopolitical player.
Erdogan's role is now more important than it has been in recent years," Asli Aydintasbas, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, was quoted as saying.
"Most Turks support their country's balancing act and its quasi-neutral position between the West and Russia."
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Putin and Erdogan: "Certain differences of opinion"
Vladimir Putin told Russian media in Tehran he still has "certain disagreements" with Erdogan over Syria.
"Most likely, the meeting has something to do with a possible invasion of Syria, for which Turkey did not get the green light from Russia -- nor from Iran," said foreign policy analyst Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Has University.
If the talks also deal with the Ukraine war, it will be difficult for Erdogan to achieve diplomatic success again.
"Russia should get something in return," Soli Ozel said.
(skr/afp)
