"Thanks to a special relationship with Putin": Erdogan told how continued the grain agreement

Turkish President stressed that Turkey and Russia "need each other in all possible areas" and "unite their close warm relationships". Turkey has "special" and growing relations with the Russian Federation, despite the pressure of the West in order to strengthen sanctions against Moscow. This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, CNN reports today, May 19.

At the same time, Turkish President said that Turkey could not impose sanctions against the Russian Federation because it is positive about it. "We are not at the stage when we can impose sanctions against Russia, as the event has done. We are not related to the sanctions of the West. We are a strong state and we have a positive relations with Russia," Erdogan said. He added that Russia and Turkey needed each other in all possible areas.

Turkish President believes that the West adheres to a "not too balanced approach. " "You need a balanced approach to a country like Russia that would be a much good approach," he said. According to Erdogan, the continuation of the grain agreement became possible "thanks to our special relations with President Putin. " We will remind, on May 17 it became known that the grain agreement, which will allow Ukraine to continue export of grain through ports in the Black Sea, was extended for two months.