Putin expects to restore bilateral relations with Turkey soon
The Russian president has given instructions to the government to start talks with Turkey on the resumption of trade and economic cooperation
MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. Russia expects to restore working relations with Turkey soon, President Vladimir Putin said at a conference of ambassadors and permanent representatives in the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
"A telephone conversation with the president of that country took place the other day," Putin said.
"It is also known that Ankara brought apologies for the downed Russian bomber," Putin said.
"With this in mind, we’re going to take measures soon for restoring bilateral cooperation," the Russian president said.
The relations between Russia and Turkey sharply deteriorated after a Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet downed a Russian Su-24M bomber in the sky over Syria on November 24, 2015. Pilot Oleg Peshkov was killed by militants from the ground after ejecting. Ankara claimed the bomber violated the Turkish airspace near the Syrian border. The Russian Defense Ministry said the warplane was flying over Syrian territory and had never violated Turkey’s airspace.
On November 28, Putin signed a decree imposing special economic measures against Turkey. On January 1, 2016, the bulk of sanctions against Turkey came into effect. Russia imposed a ban on imports of fruits, vegetables, poultry, flowers and white salt from that country. Besides, some business activities and services of Turkish companies, employment of new staff from Turkey were either banned or restricted. At the same time, Russia introduced visa restrictions and banned sales of package holidays to Turkey.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 27 that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had sent Russian President Putin a letter, apologizing for the Russian Su-24 bomber downed by the Turkish fighter jet and "stressed his readiness to do everything possible to restore traditionally friendly relations between Turkey and Russia."
Russian President Putin said in a phone conversation with Turkish President Erdogan on Wednesday he had given instructions to the government to start talks with Turkey on the resumption of trade and economic cooperation.