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Kremlin aide explains why issue of Ukraine didn’t surface at Putin, Erdogan talks

The sides "spent very much time discussing trade and political issues including gas deals and reinvigorating trade and economic relations in all the other areas," Yury Ushakov said

ASTANA, October 13. /TASS/. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov on Thursday said Russian and Turkish presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan simply didn’t have time to discuss Ukraine as they focused on other issues during their talks earlier that day.

The sides "spent very much time discussing trade and political issues including gas deals and reinvigorating trade and economic relations in all the other areas," he said. "That consumed all the time."

When asked if any political conclusions should be made from the fact that the presidents didn’t bring up Ukraine at the talks, Ushakov said, "No, probably not".

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Military operation in Ukraine

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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