Putin-Erdogan talks kick off in Sochi

The meeting of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched in Sochi, RIA Novosti reports. President Putin thanked Erdogan for arriving in Sochi.

“It is very good that we have a chance to meet at a working regime, to talk about key issues of bilateral mutual partnership,” Putin said, adding that the meeting speaks about the fact that the relations of both countries acquire special status and are being restored in a full format.

In his turn, the Turkish President said the joint steps of Moscow and Ankara can have an impact on the Middle East. “We have a very serious work to do, a very great responsibility. And I am convinced that the steps we are taking will change the fate of the entire region,” Erdogan said. Earlier it was reported the meeting will focus on discussing the political settlement of Syrian crisis.