On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Minister,
I am delighted to see you.
I am aware that you were in Nizhny Novgorod and met with foreign ministers from the BRICS countries who came to Russia in the run-up to the BRICS summit. We welcome Turkiye’s interest in BRICS. Of course, we will support this interest and the push to be closer to the countries of this association and to address common problems, especially so since the situation calls for, I believe, a more thorough and close interaction, particularly for the countries of the region which we live in, in order to act effectively across all areas both in terms of ensuring security and in terms of economic cooperation and in order to adjust our actions in the international arena. Everything that I just mentioned is one way or another among our priorities which we work on painstakingly.
We note with satisfaction progress in our relations with the Republic of Turkiye. All of that is happening, of course, under the leadership and with the direct support of our friend, the President of the Republic of Turkiye.
Last year, we saw good growth, but there was a decrease in the level of trade earlier this year, which we attribute primarily to the adjustment of prices for our staple export and import goods. I hope we will be able to improve this situation soon, and things will be the way they were last year. Last year saw an absolute record of trade between our countries.
We are grateful to our Turkish friends for their commitment to contribute to the settlement of crisis situations, including the Ukraine crisis. I would also like to thank you, in your former capacity, for supporting the negotiating process and for providing the Istanbul venue for negotiations with Ukraine to resolve the crisis.
President Erdogan played an important role in the conclusion of the grain deal as well. It is not our fault that, unfortunately, it was not renewed. But I also know about President Erdogan’s initiative regarding the situation in the Black Sea. You know that we supported it. But unfortunately, the Ukrainian side also rejected this proposal at the last moment.
Nonetheless, we are considering, carefully and with great respect, all initiatives of the Republic of Turkiye on this track and will remain in contact with you.
Turkiye and Russia played a significant role in settling the Syria crisis, and I think continuing the Astana format will be the right thing to do, to fight terrorism, and to do everything we can to return the situation back to normal in this most important area.
Overall, the situation is unfolding in a positive manner. Please convey my best regards to President Erdogan. I hope that soon, in July, I think July 3–4, he will arrive in Astana, as far as I know, as part of an international event, and we will have an opportunity to sit down and discuss all current issues.
Welcome, Mr Minister.
Foreign Minister of Turkiye Hakan Fidan (retranslated): Mr President,
Let me start by thanking you for this reception. Thank you for receiving me.
His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sends you his best regards.
In your opening remarks, you mentioned our country and its role as a mediator in the Ukraine crisis and regarding the Syrian issue. You also said that the leaders of our two countries are doing everything to bring the situation in the region back to normal. I held a series of meetings in Moscow along the same lines.
Your Excellency, there are several matters I would like to raise with you during this meeting, if I may.
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