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Russian President Vladimir Putin is pleased that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won another presidential election. Photo/REUTERS
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin happy Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan whom he calls a “dear friend”, won the presidential election on Sunday.
The Kremlin leader congratulated and thanked Erdogan for his personal contribution to strengthening ties between Russia and Turkey.
“Your victory in the elections is a natural result of your selfless work as the head of the Republic of Turkey, and is a clear proof of the Turkish people’s support for your efforts to strengthen the country’s sovereignty and pursue an independent foreign policy,” Putin wrote in a written message to Erdogan, which reported by Russia Today, Monday (29/5/2023).
“We greatly appreciate your personal contribution to strengthening Russia-Turkey friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation,” continued Putin, calling the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant and creation of a new gas center two significant joint projects.
“From the bottom of my heart, I wish you new successes… as well as (given) good health and well-being,” concluded Putin.
Erdogan declared victory on Sunday night after defeating his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, in the second round of the Turkish presidential election.
With more than 99% of the ballots counted, Erdoğan came out ahead with 55.12% of the vote. Meanwhile, Kilicdaroglu won 47.88% of the vote.
The Turkish president’s foreign policy, described by Putin as independent and balanced, has seen Turkey strengthen ties with Russia and China while pushing its NATO allies for concessions, as Erdogan did when he demanded Sweden and Finland lift arms embargoes against Turkey and deport terror suspects before he signed off on their accession to the alliance.
Turkey is the only NATO member that has not imposed sanctions on Russia for its military operations in Ukraine, and Erdogan has taken a neutral stance on the conflict.
