MOSCOW: A joint statement was adopted on Friday by President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, promising to strengthen political and economic ties, especially in the areas of trade and energy. Putin and Erdogan spoke of Russia's isolation as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.

According to a Kremlin statement issued after four hours of talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, the leaders reaffirmed their shared desire to advance Russian-Turkish relations "despite current regional and global challenges".

Putin and Erdogan agreed to increase trade and strengthen economic and energy cooperation, with a focus on transportation, agriculture, tourism and construction. The two leaders "agreed to meet the expectations of the other side in the fields of economy and energy," according to the statement.

According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the agreements are "very important", with the goal of advancing to a "new level of development" in "almost all areas".

According to the Kremlin, Putin and Erdogan also stressed the value of "honest, clear and trusting relations" in order to achieve regional and global stability.

The leaders stressed the resumption of Ukrainian grain shipments, pointing to the "constructive relationship" between the two countries that they said made the agreement possible, even though the statement did not specifically mention Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. it was done.

Additionally, there was no explicit mention in the statement of any possible new Turkish attack against Syrian Kurdish militants.
According to the statement, "the parties reaffirmed that they attach great importance to advancing the political process in Syria".

In the fight against all terrorist organizations, "the determination to act jointly and in close coordination with each other was reaffirmed."

Putin also praised the Turkstream natural gas pipeline project at the start of the talks, saying Europe should be grateful to Turkey for its continued supply of Russian gas.

Erdogan predicted that the meeting would "open a new page in Turkish-Russian relations." The most recent summit between Putin and Erdogan took place in Iran in July. Putin informed Erdogan at the time that Russia was opposing any upcoming Turkish attack against Kurdish militants in northern Syria.

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