Putin Visits Turkey With Energy Seen Eclipsing Syria Split
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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Ankara today for a state visit during which Turkey’s energy needs will likely outweigh disagreements over the war in Syria.
Russia is one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s strongest supporters, while Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has urged a U.S.-led coalition bombing Syrian militant groups to stop at nothing short of regime change. Even so, the Russian president said his country is preparing to increase gas exports to Turkey, and will sign a protocol on energy cooperation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today.