Warm words about Putin: "We have a growing relationship"

Recep Tayyip Erdogan  

Erdogan's tribute to Putin: "Special friendship" 

 Of:  

Lukas Jacobson  

Published: Less than 30 min ago  

NEWS 

Erdogan praises his good friendship with Putin.  

He believes that there is a "special and growing" relationship between the countries. 

- Russia and Turkey need each other in all areas, he tells CNN. 

The friendship between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 69, and Vladimir Putin , 70, is strong. There is a "special and growing" relationship between the countries, Erdogan stated in an interview with CNN.

- Russia and Turkey need each other in all areas, he says.  

The relationship between the countries has been criticized since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While many countries impose sanctions against Russia and Russian oligarchs, Erdogan celebrates the bond with Russia.  

Successful negotiations  

The friendship is said to have led to significant negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.  

Among other things, he was involved in negotiations on grain exports from Ukraine across the Black Sea. An agreement that was extended this week, and Erdogan says it alleviates food inflation for ”all of humanity”.

Erdogan and Putin during a meeting in Sochi last August. Photo: AP 

- This was possible because of our special friendship with President Putin. 

- You need to deal with a country like Russia in a balanced way, says Erdogan, who wants to see Western countries follow in Turkey's footsteps.

Do not want to impose sanctions  

Right now, a G7 summit is taking place with some of the world's most economically powerful countries.

The leaders of Japan, the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada are meeting in Hiroshima to discuss, among other things, new sanctions against Russia and new support for Ukraine.

The G7 leaders during Friday's meeting in Hiroshima, Japan. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AP  

Sanctions that Turkey will not be part of. 

- We are not in a position where we would introduce sanctions against Russia, as Western countries have done. We are not bound by Western sanctions. We are a strong state and we have a positive relationship with Russia, says Erdogan. 

"We are not ready for Sweden"  

On May 28, a second round of the presidential election will be held in Turkey and a winner will be chosen. Erdogan has been in the presidency for eight years but is now being challenged by the opposition's Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, 74. 

Erdogan has said that Kiliçdaroglu wants to cut Turkey's friendship with Putin. And unlike Erdogan's no to a Swedish NATO membership, Kiliçdaroglu wants to see that Sweden quickly joins the alliance, according to Sveriges Radio.

Kemal Kiliçdaroglu is challenging Erdogan in the Turkish presidential election. Photo: AP 

- As long as Sweden continues to allow terrorist groups to roam freely on the streets of Stockholm, we cannot look favorably on Sweden's membership in NATO, Erdogan says in the CNN interview, referring to the terrorist organization PKK. 

- We are not ready for Sweden right now. Because a NATO country must have a strong stance when it comes to combating terrorism.  

However, the opposition's presidential candidate accuses Erdogan of having negotiated with the PKK himself, TT writes. 

- Wasn't it you who sat at the same table as the terrorists?  I will never sit down with terrorist organizations. Never, says Kiliçdaroglu.