A visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey that was expected to take place next week has been postponed to late April or early May, Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a source in Ankara.
There has long been talk about a visit by Putin to Turkey, a NATO member, the first such visit since Russia launched a war on Ukraine in February 2022.
Local media had earlier mentioned February 12 as a likely date, but no official confirmation was ever made.
“In connection with the election schedule in the two countries, as you know, municipal elections will be held in Turkey, and presidential elections in Russia, it was decided to postpone [Putin’s] visit, tentatively, to the end of April – beginning of May,” the source in Ankara told RIA.
Turkey will hold local elections on March 31, while a presidential election will be held in Russia March 15–17.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said the date of Putin’s visit will be determined taking into account the election schedules in Turkey and Russia.
Peskov said preparations are under way to organize the visit and that it will be announced when both sides agree on a date.
Erdoğan has managed to maintain trade and political relations with both Ukraine and Russia, allowing Russia to avoid Western sanctions while selling weapons to Ukraine.
The last meeting between Putin and Erdoğan was in September 2023 in Sochi, but they frequently talk by phone.
The last time Putin visited Turkey was in January 2020.