The meeting of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, followed by the world, left its mark on the European press. According to media reports, Western countries are determined to prevent a rapprochement on the Moscow-Ankara line. However, Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta argues that it is unlikely that the US and EU will impose sanctions on Turkey, and that even the West can benefit from the developing relations between Russia and Turkey.
“TURKEY IS FOLLOWING A SMART POLICY”
Middle East Institute expert Ivan Starodubtsev made the following assessment in the article he wrote in the newspaper:
“Turkey is trying to strike a balance between the two players by following a wise policy. Also, Ankara is effectively promoting itself, especially through the grain deal.”
“TURKEY’S ROLE CAN RESET THE EFFECT OF SANCTIONS”
While Western politicians expressed their concern that Turkey might play a role in the impact of the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West, Starodubtsev stated that European business people are interested in profit and are trying to take advantage of the situation:
“First of all, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between strategic goods and those that are sanctioned but have little importance in the development of the country. These will be controlled by almost no one. Turkey will probably help Russia import essential goods that are not under special control. As for Western countries While trying to manage the situation by blocking the export of strategic goods to Russia, they will turn a blind eye to the amusements of European businesses struggling to survive.
Starodubtsev, who thought it unlikely that the threat of secondary sanctions would change the situation, concluded his words as follows:
“A mechanism to tighten sanctions will certainly emerge, but in practice it has been seen that it will only push people to break the law. Ankara will do whatever it takes to make money and expand the market, but it will not go to risky exports.”