Putin hails Türkiye as 'privileged partner' in foreign policy, economy

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday described Türkiye as one of Moscow's "privileged partners" in foreign policy and economic affairs, praising President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's personal commitment to deepening bilateral ties during their meeting in Bishkek.

The two leaders convened on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Kyrgyz capital, which gathered leaders from member states and invited partners to mark the organization's 25th anniversary. "Türkiye is one of our privileged partners in both foreign policy and economic affairs," Putin said, emphasizing that Ankara remains a key interlocutor for Moscow on regional issues.

Energy and infrastructure

Putin specifically highlighted the ongoing construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in southern Türkiye as a flagship initiative being implemented by Russia's state nuclear company, Rosatom. "You set the goal for our company, Rosatom, to launch the first unit this year – and it will be, the company is on schedule," he told Erdogan, adding that the project demonstrates the durability of bilateral industrial cooperation despite external pressures.

Tourism and cultural exchange

The Russian president also pointed to considerable potential for expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation, citing steadily increasing tourist flows between the two countries. Russian visitor numbers to Türkiye reached almost seven million in 2025, underscoring the breadth of relations extending beyond government-level strategic alignment into sustained grassroots people-to-people exchanges that have continued to grow throughout recent years.