Putin says it takes time to 'resuscitate' trade cooperation with Turkey
President Vladimir Putin of Russia said in a joint press conference Tuesday with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that there is still "painstaking work to resuscitate trade and economic cooperation" between the two countries.
The press conference in St. Petersburg came after the two heads of state met in person in a sign of improving ties that had soured in the wake of the shooting down of a Russian warplane by a Turkish jet in November 2015.
Putin told the press conference that the priority for Russia and Turkey was to return the relations to their pre-crisis level.
"Ahead of us lies painstaking work to resuscitate trade and economic cooperation. This process has already started but it will take some time," Putin stated.
For his part, President Erdogan said the talks with Putin have been "comprehensive and beneficial."
Turkey and Russia, Erdogan said, are reinstating their annual bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion.
The Turkish presidential office has described the general mood at the talks between the two leaders as "very positive."
Resolution of crisis in Syria
The Russian president also said that it is possible to resolve differences on how to handle the crisis in Syria.
"I think it is possible to align our views and approaches," Putin told reporters.
The visit was the first meeting between the presidents since relations broke down over the shooting down of the Russian aircraft over Syria in 2015. It was also Erdogan’s first foreign trip since the failed coup in Turkey on July 15.
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