ANKARA, November 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin prevents the US from acting with comfort in the region around Turkey and worldwide, according to Melih Altinok, a columnist at the pro-government Turkish newspaper Sabah.
"It is a fact that if it weren’t for Putin, the US would be more comfortable in our region and in the world," he wrote. "For example, although the Russian presence in Syria occasionally conflicts with Turkey's interests, it is a factor that reduces the effectiveness of the US and the People's Protection Units that it controls."
He also praised Putin for "not surrendering to the World Health Organization during the pandemic" and pursuing the nation’s own policy in fighting the virus.
"Putin is also one of the most determined voices representing regional communities against globalists and their economic impositions," the columnist said. "He doesn’t care what Time, CNN or BBC say about him. He does what he knows to be right and believes in."
Altinok mentioned relations between Russia and Turkey.
"Putin also manages his relations with Turkey, a NATO member integrated into the West, with quality and maturity," he wrote. "He made no mistakes and displayed far-sightedness by continuing dialogue with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during such critical events as the shooting down of the Russian jet and the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov in Ankara."
According to the column, some of Putin’s other right choices were that he did not welcome FETO, a group that Turkey designated terrorists, and supported Erdogan during an attempted coup in 2016.
While the West calls Putin "evil," he was able to "rebuild his country after the US had left it in disarray," Altinok said.