Putin and Erdogan discuss bilateral trade cooperation in telephone conversation

MADRID 24 Nov. () –

The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, held a telephone conversation this Sunday with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which both discussed bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The Kremlin has indicated in a statement that Putin and Erdogan have discussed the prospects for the development of bilateral trade and economic ties, as well as the project to build a gas distribution center in Turkey, as reported by the TASS news agency. .

The leaders of both countries reached an agreement in October 2022 by which Türkiye would become an axis for the redistribution of Russian gas to third countries. The Turkish president then proposed the historic region of Eastern Thrace, on the shores of the Black Sea, as a possible gas ‘hub’.

During the conversation this Sunday, Erdogan reiterated that Turkey continues to support efforts to end hostilities in the region and reach a peace agreement, alluding to the open conflict in Ukraine since the start of the Russian offensive on February 24. of 2022.

The last time the two leaders saw each other was on the sidelines of the BRICS summit – an alliance launched by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – which was held in the Russian city of Kazan. At this meeting, they discussed, among other topics, the exchange of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners within the framework of the conflict.