Nine months after the Turkish air force downed a Russian plane over Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sat down Tuesday in St. Petersburg to talk things out. It was the leaders' first meeting since the incident last November, and Erdogan's first trip abroad since Turkey's failed July coup. Turkey has maintained it downed the Russian fighter jet after the plane failed to heed multiple warnings to leave Turkish airspace.
As both leaders had hoped, the meeting was a step towards restored relations. Erdogan called Putin his "dear friend" and indicated that Turkey is ready to move forward with a joint natural gas pipeline project and the construction of its first nuclear power plant. Putin promised to once again allow Russian tourists to visit Turkey, a promising move towards reversing Russia's economic sanctions on the country.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possibleThe Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
