Turkish media and international outlets, including Reuters, have reported that Putin and Erdogan will meet in Turkey on February 12.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to confirm the date of the visit, but said they will announce it “in due time.”
Erdogan and Putin "regularly keep in touch, more often over the phone, and as a rule, they meet in person several times a year. Every such meeting is very busy in terms of the agenda," he was cited by Russian state media as telling reporters during a press conference.
Several issues will be discussed in the meeting. "These will certainly include the relationship between Russia and Turkey and bilateral trade and economic cooperation," the Kremlin spokesman said.
"Of course, [they] always discuss regional issues, and Ukraine, too, of course," he added.
This will be Putin’s first visit to a member of NATO since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war two years ago. Turkey this month ratified Stockholm’s application to join the military alliance. Sweden and Finland ended their tradition of military neutrality and made bids to join NATO after Russia began its war with Ukraine.
An arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court has limited Putin’s travels abroad, but Turkey is not party to the Rome Statute that established the court.
