TARKIYA WITH RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kazakhstan on Friday.  In this meeting, Putin suggested that Turkey could be made the center of gas supply in Europe.Putin has said that the supply of gas to the European Union through Turkey is proving to be reliable. At the start of the Ukraine war, gas supplies through the Nord Stream pipeline between Germany and Russia were affected, and after an explosion in the Baltic Sea, gas supplies were completely suspended.  It is believed that this explosion was done deliberately.

 President Putin has said that the damage caused by the explosion can be compensated by the Black Sea region and Turkey can be made the center of gas supply in Europe.On this occasion, the Turkish president has said that he will further strengthen the agreement reached in July, under which Ukrainian wheat from the Black Sea can be transported to international markets.  Currently, this new contract will be finalized in mid-November.  After the approval of Russia and Ukraine, it can be extended. President Erdoğan added that Russia and Turkey are determined to continue and strengthen wheat exports.  "Through Turkey, Russian wheat and fertilizer can be delivered to low-income countries."Putin has said that the countries receiving the wheat should thank Turkey because an agreement was reached with its help.

 Russian Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that there was no talk of ending tensions with Ukraine in the talks between President Putin and Turkish President Erdogan.  Peskov said that there was no discussion about solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Prior to the meeting, there were reports from Russia that Erdogan could formally mediate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

Despite the ongoing war between the two countries, an agreement was reached on July 23 that allowed Ukraine to export wheat through the Black Sea.Ukraine began exporting billions of tons of wheat that had been sitting in its warehouses through the decision.  Russia has said it will not attack cargo ships carrying wheat by sea.  The United Nations called it a 'historic agreement'.

Then on August 5, Erdogan and Putin met in Sochi, where various issues were discussed.  On September 20, Erdogan said he believed Putin wanted to end the war and that important steps would be taken soon.He said that the conversation with Putin in recent days has given the impression that he is in favor of ending the war as soon as possible. Ukraine recaptured Russian-held territory last month and said the war "will not end soon." The two countries exchanged 200 prisoners of war on the same day, but the war continued.

In a statement issued in February, Turkish President Erdogan told Russian President Putin that his country would not recognize any move by Russia against Ukraine's territorial integrity.

According to the Reuters news agency, the Turkish president told Putin on the phone that the military action is not in anyone's interest and offered a solution to the problem.Erdogan said that he values ​​Russian cooperation in regional issues and wants Russia to continue its role in these issues.  Erdogan said that the Ukraine-Russia conflict can be resolved through diplomatic efforts instead of military operations.

 Turkey is actually playing a "double trick" in this matter.  Turkey was an ally of Western countries at the beginning of the war, but now there is an impression that it is getting closer to Russia.Turkey is a member of NATO, the Western military alliance, and has traditionally been an ally of Ukraine.In February of this year, Turkey opposed Russia's announcement of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.  Turkey has been supporting Ukraine's claims to Crimea and the Donbass.Both areas were seized by Russian-backed separatists, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would eventually liberate the areas. However, Turkey has never supported the initiative of Western powers to impose economic sanctions on Russia, but the situation is that Turkey has strengthened its economic cooperation with Russia.

 According to political analyst Karim Haas, "President Erdogan uses the Russia card in his relations with the US and the West because he knows that Turkey is a valuable ally for the US and the West in this matter."  On the other hand, they also use the West's card in their relations with Russia.It should be noted that Turkey does not only support Ukraine on a diplomatic level, but also supports Ukraine militarily.  Turkey supplied Ukraine with TB-2 drones, which proved to be a major threat to the Russian army.

"Turkey tried to mediate With his help, Ukraine was allowed to export wheat and prisoners were exchanged between the two countries.Turkey is a member of NATO and has good relations with both Ukraine and Russia.  But it is not difficult for Ukraine to agree to a deal, it is almost impossible.Ukrainian military officials say that they are trying to dislodge the Russian army from their territories.

While Russia has withdrawn its troops from many areas where they had a strong hold.Anti-war demonstrations have been seen in various Russian cities and large numbers of people have tried to leave the country, fearing additional military conscription. Recently, Russia has targeted residential areas and civilians in Ukraine and damaged many buildings.  Ukraine has said that Russia is doing this out of fear of defeat.  Missiles have been continuously fired at Ukrainian cities.Last week, President Zelensky described the possibility of talks with Putin as 'impossible'.  However, Ukraine's door is still open for talks with Russia.

With the help of weapons received from the Western countries, Ukraine showed its determination to take back the occupied territories.  These include the areas that were occupied by the Russian army during this February.  The people of Ukraine also apparently stand behind this demand.